Portland Burn Injury Attorney | Johnston Law Firm

We Help Burn Injury Victims in Portland and Throughout Oregon

Burns are some of the most painful injuries that a person can sustain. Burns can severely damage the skin and other tissue and can leave victims with significant and permanent scarring. In addition, burn injury victims can face many complications and often require a lengthy course of medical treatment. Serious burn injuries can also change the entire course of a person’s life, as they may live with impairments due to their injury, may not be able to work, and may require long-lasting medical assistance.

If you have been burned in an accident and someone else was at fault, you may be entitled to compensation for all of your burn-related losses. An experienced Portland attorney can help you determine the best course of action for you to financially recover after your injury.

Common Causes Of Burn Injuries

Burns come in many forms and can occur for many reasons. The following are some examples of how different types of burns can occur:

Thermal — These burns occur from extreme heat including flame or contact with hot surfaces.
Scalds — Scalding injuries occur when the skin comes in contact with extremely hot liquids or even steam.
Chemical — Chemical burns result from contact or exposure to toxic chemicals such as acids. These chemicals can be in gas, liquid, or solid form.
Friction — These wounds can occur when the skin is rubbed violently against a surface such as pavement, wood flooring, or carpet. While many friction burns are minor, friction burns from motorcycle or bicycle accidents (“road rash”) can be severe.

Treatment For Burns

Statistics reported by the American Burn Association (ABA) indicate that approximately 486,000 burn victims received some type of medical treatment for their injuries in 2015. Burns can range from relatively superficial to life-changing and the treatment required will depend on the severity of the burn. Burn injuries are classified by severity as follows:

First-degree — Minor and only affects the top layer of skin.
Second-degree — More serious as the burn affects deeper layers of the skin.
Third degree — Extremely serious as all layers of the skin are damaged and often bone, muscle, or other tissue (burns damaging tissue are sometimes referred to as fourth-degree).

Minor burns can generally be treated with basic first aid at home, however, it is important to keep an eye on the affected area. Most second-degree and all third-degree burns will require immediate emergency medical attention and often extensive treatment.

Immediate treatments for burns include diagnosis of the damage caused, pain control, treating the wound and any blistering or sores, removing any clothing that may be stuck to the wound, and protecting the damaged area. While some burn victims will be sent home after their burn has been dressed, others may require long-lasting medical monitoring and complex procedures. For serious injuries, multiple skin grafts and other surgical procedures may be necessary, as well as constant care to keep the wound clean.

Some victims also require significant medical treatment due to the many potential complications of a severe burn. Such complications can include hypothermia (dangerous drop in body temperature), hypovolemia (loss of blood), shock, and infection. Many third-degree burn victims are closely monitored for signs of infection for weeks or even months. The ABA reports that 30,000 burn victims in 2015 were admitted to burn centers for extended treatment. While Portland has highly-respected burn treatment facilities, recovering from an injury in a burn center can be very expensive.

Financial Recovery For Burn Injuries

Different burns can occur in many kinds of accidents including auto accidents, house fires, workplace accidents, accidents caused by defective products, and dangerous hazards on a property. If an accident happens because a person or company was negligent, burn victims have the right to recover financial compensation for all of their medical bills, pain and suffering, psychological trauma, lost earnings, and other burn-related losses. An experienced burn injury attorney will know how to identify any potentially liable parties and present evidence of their negligence and of your losses so that you can receive the full amount you deserve for your accidental burn injury.

Contact An Experienced Oregon Burn Injury Attorney Now

If you are recovering from a serious burn injury, you have likely experienced significant pain, emotional distress, and financial strain. At the Johnston Law Firm, we believe that you should focus on your physical recovery while we handle your legal case. We provide award winning, compassionate representation for burn victims, so if you would like to schedule a free consultation with a highly qualified Oregon burn injury attorney, call (503) 546-3167.

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