Charlotte Burn Injury Attorney

Burn injuries are categorized according to both type and degree.

Types of burn injuries include:

• Thermal Burns: Caused by contact with heat, including hot liquids, steam, flames, and other hot surfaces
• Electrical Burns: Caused by contact with live electricity, including electrical wires, outlets, and other electricity sources
• Chemical Burns: Caused by contact with abrasive and/or caustic chemicals and other dangerous and harmful substances
• Radiation Burns: Caused by radiation from various sources, including the sun (sunburns), some forms of cancer treatment, etc.

Additionally, individuals can sustain friction burns (“road rash”) and cold burns (“frostbite”), which can be serious injuries but are not technically burns. However, they are often treated as such due to their severe and potentially scarring nature.

Burns are also classified by degree. These include:

• First-Degree Burns: The least serious type of burn injury, first-degree burns usually heal on their own. They may require at-home treatment, including over-the-counter pain medication and topical ointments. Generally, first-degree burns affect the top layer of skin (epidermis) only and may result in redness, localized pain, slight blistering, and scarring.
• Second-Degree Burns: Considered moderate to severe, second-degree burns affect both the upper and lower layers of skin (epidermis and dermis, respectively). Victims typically need professional medical treatment and can experience a range of symptoms, from severe pain to numbness to redness, swelling, blistering, and permanent scarring.
• Third-Degree Burns: Categorized as the most severe type of burn injury, third-degree burns require immediate medical attention. They can cause damage to both the epidermis and the dermis, as well as the surrounding bones and tissues. Victims may experience charring of the skin, whitened or blackened skin, numbness, and other serious complications.