Burn Injury Attorney in Maryland

Suffering burn injuries in an accident can be a life-altering experience that often leads to significant physical pain, emotional distress, and financial hardship. If you or a loved one has been burned in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, a burn injury attorney in Maryland can provide crucial legal guidance and representation.

Burns can range from minor to severe, with some, like radiation burns, requiring extensive medical treatment and potentially leaving permanent scarring that affects victims for life.

A skilled burn injury lawyer understands the complex nature of these cases and can help burn victims navigate the legal process to recover compensation for their injuries. At Zirkin & Schmerling, our experienced burn injury lawyers are dedicated to fighting for the rights of burn injury victims throughout Maryland. Call 410-753-4611.

How Vehicle Accidents Cause Burn Injuries

Vehicle accidents are a common cause of burns for several reasons. These include:

• Fuel fires from ruptured gas lines and spilled chemicals
• Engine fires
• Battery explosions
• Chemical exposure from leaking fluids (such as battery acid and coolant)
• Airbag deployment, which can cause friction injuries
• Hot metal surfaces

The Four Types of Burn Injuries

Not all burn injuries from vehicle accidents look the same, and understanding the specific type of burn injury is crucial for both medical treatment and your injury claim. The four types are:

Thermal Burns

These are the most common type resulting from vehicle accidents, as they occur when the skin comes into contact with flames, hot surfaces, steam, or hot liquids. In car accidents, these severe burns often result from fires that break out after a collision or contact with overheated vehicle components.

Electrical Burns

Electrical burns happen when electric current passes through the body. In vehicle accidents these can occur from damaged wiring, particularly in hybrid or electric vehicles with high-voltage systems. Electrical burns often cause damage to underlying tissues that may not be immediately visible on the skin’s surface.

Chemical Burns

In car crashes, these burns often occur when batteries rupture or when automotive fluids like coolant or battery acid come into contact with the skin. Chemical burns require immediate decontamination and specialized treatment based on the specific substance involved.

Friction Burns

Friction injuries (also called “road rash“) occur when skin scrapes against rough surfaces. These are common in motorcycle accidents or when occupants are ejected from vehicles.

What Are the Four Degrees of Burn Injuries?

Burns are categorized by severity into four degrees, each requiring different levels of medical treatment:

First-Degree

First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin (epidermis). First-degree burn symptoms may include redness, minor pain, and mild swelling. Although uncomfortable, first-degree burns typically heal within a week without scarring.

Second-Degree

Second-degree burns damage both the epidermis and the dermis (the second layer of skin). These second-degree burns cause redness, pain, swelling, and blistering. Recovery may take several weeks, and there’s a risk of scarring. Second-degree burns often result from brief contact with flames, hot liquids, or chemicals in vehicle accidents.

Third-Degree

Third-degree burns destroy both the epidermis and dermis, extending into the subcutaneous tissue. A serious burn like this may appear white, charred, or leathery and may cause nerve damage, potentially reducing pain sensation in the burned area. Third-degree burns require immediate medical treatment and often necessitate skin grafts. Third-degree burns are accompanied by expensive medical bills and lost wages from time off work due to the healing process.

Fourth-Degree

A step worse than third-degree burns, fourth-degree burns are the most severe, extending beyond the skin into nerve endings, muscles, tendons, and even the bone. These are life-threatening injuries that require emergency medical intervention and often extensive surgery. Such serious burns commonly result from prolonged exposure to flames or high-voltage electrical currents.

Psychological Trauma After a Burn Injury

Beyond physical damage, fire-related injuries often cause significant psychological trauma to car crash victims. Severe burn injuries can lead to:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Depression and anxiety
• Body image issues and social anxiety

The psychological impact of burn injuries can be as debilitating as the physical injuries themselves. A comprehensive burn injury case should account for both physical and emotional suffering. Maryland personal injury attorneys who work with burn injury victims understand the importance of including psychological treatment costs when seeking compensation.

Is Smoke Inhalation a Burn Injury?

Although it is technically not a burn to the skin, smoke inhalation is closely associated with burn injuries and can be equally or more dangerous. Inhaling smoke damages the respiratory system when a person breathes in hot air, smoke, or toxic chemicals released during a fire. This can cause:

• Thermal damage to the airways
• Chemical irritation to the respiratory system
• Systemic toxicity from carbon monoxide and other chemicals
• Asphyxiation due to oxygen displacement

Inhaling smoke requires immediate medical attention and is often a critical component of burn injury cases, especially those involving vehicle fires or building fires.

Why Smoke Inhalation is Common After a Car Accident

Inhaling smoke is particularly common in vehicle accidents due to:

• Confined spaces
• Toxic materials
• Rapid fire spread
• Potential unconsciousness

A Maryland burn injury lawyer will ensure that smoke-related injuries are properly documented and included in your injury case.

Possible Deadly Complications After a Burn Injury

An injured person dealing with severe burn injuries can experience life-threatening complications beyond the initial trauma, including:

• Infection: Burns compromise the skin’s protective barrier, allowing bacteria to enter the body.
• Sepsis: Widespread infection can lead to septic shock.
• Respiratory problems: Smoke and/or burns to the face/neck can compromise breathing.
• Hypovolemia: Fluid loss through damaged skin can lead to low blood volume and shock.
• Hypothermia: Extensive burns reduce the body’s ability to regulate temperature.
• Scarring and contractures: Severe burns can lead to disabling contractures that limit movement.
• Organ failure: Some damage, especially fourth-degree burns, can trigger systemic inflammatory responses that damage organs.
• Impaired blood flow: Severe burns can damage blood vessels and restrict circulation to affected areas, potentially leading to tissue death.

Treatments Available for Burn Injuries

Burn treatment for accident victims varies based on severity, location, and the individual’s overall health:

Immediate Care:

• Cooling the injury with cool (not cold) water
• Cleaning and debriding (removing dead tissue)
• Applying appropriate dressings and antibiotics
• Pain management

Ongoing Treatment:

• Skin grafts for full thickness burns (third- and fourth-degree)
• Specialized wound dressings
• Infection prevention
• Physical therapy to maintain function and prevent contractures

Advanced Treatments:

• Reconstructive and plastic surgery
• Compression garments to minimize scarring
• Laser therapy for burn scars
• Tissue expansion techniques
• Rehabilitation therapy

Long-term Care:

• Management of chronic pain
• Ongoing PT
• Treatment for nerve damage
• Psychological support
• Radiation therapy for certain types of scars

The cost of these treatments can be astronomical, creating significant financial strain for burn injury victims. Medical bills often continue long after the initial injury, and many treatments may not be fully covered by insurance. This is why seeking maximum compensation through a burn injury claim is crucial.

Is My Burn Injury a Result of Driver Negligence?

Determining if your injuries resulted from driver negligence requires establishing that another party’s actions or inactions directly caused your injuries.

• Distracted driving
• Improper vehicle maintenance
• Mechanical failures
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI)
• Reckless driving behaviors like speeding or aggressive maneuvers
• Improper transport of flammable materials
• Commercial vehicle violations of safety regulations

An experienced burn injury lawyer will investigate the circumstances of your accident to establish negligence and identify all potentially liable parties.

The Four Elements of Negligence

To successfully pursue a burn injury claim, your injury lawyers must establish four key elements of negligence:

1. Duty of Care: The defendant had a legal obligation to act with reasonable care (all drivers have this duty).
2. Breach of Duty: The defendant failed to fulfill that obligation through action or inaction.
3. Causation: This breach directly caused your injuries.
4. Damages: You suffered actual harm (physical, emotional, financial) as a result.

Maryland burn injury lawyers are skilled at gathering the evidence necessary to prove each of these elements, from accident reconstruction to expert medical testimony.

Recoverable Damages After a Burn Injury

If you’ve suffered burns due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to several types of compensation:

Economic Damages

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages from inability to work
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Cost of home modifications needed due to disability
• Ongoing treatment costs, including PT

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional damage
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Loss of consortium (impact on personal relationships)

In cases involving particularly egregious negligence, punitive damages may also be available. A Maryland burn injury attorney will work to ensure you receive fair compensation for all applicable damages. The American Burn Association recommends seeking treatment at verified burn centers for serious burn injuries.

Contact Zirkin & Schmerling for a Free Consultation

Burn injuries from vehicle accidents can have devastating consequences, requiring extensive medical care and potentially causing lifelong suffering. If you or a loved one has experienced burn injuries due to someone else’s negligence, seeking legal representation is important to protect your rights and secure the monetary compensation you deserve.

Our experienced burn attorneys have a proven track record of helping fire victims recover the maximum compensation possible for their injuries. Don’t face this difficult journey alone – let us put our expertise to work for you.

Contact Zirkin & Schmerling at 410-753-4611 to schedule your free consultation.