South Carolina Burn Injury Lawyers

Almost everyone has suffered a minor burn injury during the routine activities of life -- cooking, drinking coffee, working on the lawn on a hot day. But for thousands of Americans each year, burns are more than just minor annoyances -- many are serious, life-threatening injuries. According to the American Burn Association, an estimated 4,000 Americans die of burn injuries each year; another 500,000 seek medical treatment for burns, a figure that includes 40,000 hospitalizations.

Sadly, the majority of those burn injuries and deaths are preventable, because many burn injuries can be traced to another person's carelessness. If you've suffered burn injuries because of the carelessness of another person, contact the Louthian Law Firm today at 1-866-410-5656 or online for a free evaluation of your case.

The ABA reports that a staggering 87.5 percent of burn deaths stem from residential fires, often fires started by cooking, cigarettes or an electrical short in a defective product. Once the fire ignites, it is often fed by furniture, some of which is made with a type of polyurethane foam so flammable that some firefighters call it "solid gasoline." Families who own this defectively designed furniture have just minutes to get out before the house collapses in flame.

Another common cause of burn injuries in South Carolina is car wrecks and truck accidents. In a crash, some cars and trucks catch fire, often due to defects in their design or manufacture. When they do, they have a large, conveniently located source of fuel to keep them burning -- the gas tank. Again, occupants of the vehicle must get out quickly in order to avoid serious burns and other injuries. Other sources of burn injuries include work-related accidents, chemical burns, exploding boilers or water heaters, extreme cold, electric shock, gas explosions and radiation. For more information on causes and prevention of burns, please see the American Burn Association, the National Institutes of Health Trauma Fact Sheet on burns, the Burn Care Foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Serious fourth-degree and third-degree burns can have lifelong health consequences. Our skin protects us from infection, regulates our body temperatures and keep internal organs hydrated. Victims who have lost significant skin often must spend months dealing with the results of that loss, which include permanent organ and body chemistry damage, as well as extreme temperature sensitivity that might not ever go away. And, of course, burns hurt -- one burn specialist told Time magazine that not even morphine can take away the pain entirely.

The nonphysical consequences of burns can also radically alter victims' lives. They may be emotionally traumatized by the experience that led to the burn. If they sustained serious, disfiguring burn scars, they may be further traumatized by radical changes in how other people relate to them and how they see themselves. Victims may feel too afraid, ashamed or angry to go back to normal activities, even work and school.

If you or someone you care about is a victim of serious burns caused by someone else's carelessness, you may be entitled to financial compensation for past and future medical bills, lost wages, physical disability, reduced mental health, disfigurement and emotional pain and suffering. If you're considering a burn injury lawsuit, it's important to talk with an attorney with significant experience in South Carolina personal injury law. The Louthian Law Firm has been trying -- and winning -- severe personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits in South Carolina since 1959. We're committed to providing excellent, personalized service and the best results for our clients. To speak with a Columbia SC burn injury attorney today, call us at 1-866-410-5656.

South Carolina Burn Injury Attorney Disclaimer: The burn injury, burn accident or other legal personal injury information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Further communication with our attorneys through the website and email may not be considered as confidential or privileged. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee. Please contact a Columbia SC personal injury lawyer at the Louthian Law Firm, P.A. for a consultation on your particular personal injury matter. This web site is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the state of South Carolina.