Many personal injury accidents in Florida involve victims suffering burn injuries. At the very least, these injuries cause irritation, swelling, redness, and blisters. However, they are often much more severe, causing damage to the muscles, bones, and skin. Sometimes, they can cause permanent disfigurement and scarring.
If you have experienced a burn injury because of someone else’s negligence, contact our Daytona Beach personal injury lawyers from Zimmet & Zimmet. We can help you file a lawsuit and help you recover the full damages you are entitled to.
Here you can learn about some of Florida’s most common causes of burn injuries.
1. Fires
It isn’t a big surprise that fires are the top cause of burn injuries. When an accident occurs, the fuel tanks can explode and cause serious injuries. In some situations, a fire can occur when someone doesn’t take reasonable care to prevent leaks.
The most common causes of a fire in a personal injury claim include:
- Improper maintenance, installation, or manufacturing of gas lines and gas appliances
- Carless driving by commercial gas truck drivers
- Unattended gas tankers and fuel-delivery equipment
- Pipes, hoses, and clamps that are not properly secured
- Leaks or openings in gas appliances
In businesses and apartment complexes, individuals may experience a burn because of fire detection and prevention equipment that doesn’t work properly, such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or fire sprinklers. There may be no exit signs to indicate how to leave, and store occupants or hotel guests may not know where to go to escape a fire.
Sometimes, careless residents may fall asleep without putting out their cigarettes, which can create a fire that injures other guests or tenants. Someone may also experience a burn injury from an explosion after a car accident.
2. Hot Liquids and Steam
Even though fires can char the skin, hot water and steam from coffee or other liquids can cause scalding injuries to the skin. It doesn’t take long for high-temperature liquid or steam to cause a third-degree burn. Just one second of exposure to water or stem that is 156 degrees Fahrenheit can result in serious burns or scalding. A person can experience a third-degree burn after exposure to 133-degree water for just 15 seconds. After just three seconds of exposure to 140-degree water, a person will likely have to go to the emergency room.
Even if you know that hot coffee (or other hot drinks) can scald you, the people serving it to you may still be liable for negligence. Coffee from restaurants is served to customers at 175 degrees. If you are injured by hot coffee, your Daytona Beach personal injury lawyers will focus on how the person giving you the coffee delivered it. Sometimes, negligence can occur if the cup is overfilled or dropped. Negligence may also be present if the lid is not secured.
3. Coming in Contact with a Hot Object
It can result in serious burns if you touch a hot object, like a cast-iron pan, iron, or stove burner. These burns could be caused by negligent supervision in childcare or daycare settings.
Sometimes, hot plates are used in restaurants, and if a server does not warn guests about the hot dishes or if they drop a hot plate on someone, they may be liable for a burn injury that it causes.
4. Electrical Burns
With an electrical burn, your body touches some type of electrical current. Steel and water are common conductors of high-energy currents. If you experience an electrical current, the damage can impact your nerves and internal organs more than your skin.
Many occupational hazards lead to electrical burns in adults. The dangerous conditions that cause these include uncovered sockets or outlets, worn electrical cords, power lines, and exposed wires. Some employees can experience this type of injury if a pole touches a power line. Individuals involved in a car accident may be able to file a personal injury claim for an electrical burn if a careless driver collides with a power pole and the power lines fall on the victim’s vehicle.
Like burns from hot objects, cases of electrical burns in children can occur at home. For example, a child may put their hand or an object in an electrical socket or play with electronics near water.
5. Chemical Burns
Chemical burns are caused by irritants like cleaners, ammonia, and bleach. These can cause reactions in your internal organs, mouth, lips, eyes, and skin. If you come in contact with these substances, they can cause blindness, blackened skin, itching, burning sensations, or redness. Besides this type of harm, if you are exposed to these things, you may experience breathing issues, seizures, dizziness, heart attacks, nausea, and coughing.
Chemical burns can also occur because of the acids or bases found in these substances. Sometimes, the cleaners used by commercial businesses are industrial grade, which means they are much stronger than what most people use in their homes. Because of this, the possibility of a chemical burn is much higher.
Contact an Attorney from Zimment & Zimment for Help with Your Burn Injury Claim
If you experience a burn due to someone else’s fault or negligence, you may be able to file a lawsuit to receive compensation. Be sure to contact Daytona Beach personal injury lawyers from Zimmet & Zimmet to help with the claims process. Our legal team has years of experience representing accident victims, and we can help you recover the compensation you are entitled to. The first step is to contact our office and schedule a free initial consultation. There’s no risk and no obligation.
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