Common Causes of Burn Injuries

Each year, around 450,000 people in the United States seek medical treatment for burn injuries, according to the American Burn Association. Burn injuries can be devastating for victims, and they can lead to pain and suffering, significant scarring and disfigurement, as well as limited mobility. Burn injuries can occur in a variety of ways, and sometimes these injuries are caused by the careless or negligent actions of others.

What causes burn injuries?

Injuries caused by fire, scalding injuries, steam burns, electrical injuries, and chemical burns happen every day. These injuries can occur inside of a person’s home, at their place of business, and many other areas. Some of the most common causes of burn injuries include the following:

• Vehicle accidents. There are various ways that a person can sustain a burn injury in a vehicle accident. The most obvious of these is the gasoline inside of a vehicle catching on fire and bursting into flames. However, burn injuries can also occur due to the airbag being deployed.
• Defective products. Faulty products are a major source of injuries in the United States, including burn injuries. Dangerous products can spark or overheat and lead to burn injuries, and they can also start fires. A wide variety of products can be defective and cause burns, particularly those that use combustible fuel sources or batteries.
• Workplace fires. Some jobs are more inherently dangerous than others, particularly those where employees operate around dangerous or flammable equipment.
• Apartment or hotel fires. Structure fires lead to thousands of injuries each year in the United States. Fires can be particularly dangerous in apartment or hotel settings where there are many people living or congregated together all at once and where the fire can spread quickly.
• Scalding injuries. Children and older adults are more susceptible to scalding injuries than others. According to data from Electrical Safety Foundation International, more than 100,000 people are treated in the ER each year as a result of scalding injuries. Hot water is a significant source of these injuries, as is hot grease.
• Gas explosions. Gas explosions are a significant concern for those in both residential areas as well as industrial settings. Gas lines stretch for millions of miles across the United States, and many of these lines were constructed decades ago. This aging infrastructure increases the chance of a dangerous or deadly explosion.
• Electrocutions. Electrocutions can occur in a residential setting as well as in the industrial setting. Electrical burns are common after a person is exposed to an electrical current, however flash arc burns and thermal contact burns are also common on worksites due to exposure to electricity. Electrocutions are particularly dangerous because they affect not only the outside of a person’s body but also the internal systems (respiratory system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system).
• Chemical accidents. Chemicals are not just located at work sites or in labs. They can also be in the home and school settings as well. Household products such as pool chemicals, cleaning products, bleach, concrete mix, and more can all cause serious chemical burns.

This list shows only some of the ways that burn injuries can occur throughout the U.S. Burn injuries can happen in a variety of ways, and they can lead to victims needing extensive medical care in order to make a recovery.

If you or a loved one have suffered burn injuries as a result of someone’s negligence, an Orange County personal injury lawyer can help. Contact us online to request a free initial consultation to discuss your case.