How Much is a Second-Degree Burn Worth?

November 30, 2020 / Catastrophic Injuries

If you or a loved one has been burned, not only is there a lot of pain involved, but you also likely have mounting medical and hospital bills. Whether red, a pallid white or blistering, the skin is damaged and often scarred after being burned, which means there can be lasting damage. The pain and suffering of this experience is made even worse if the burn was caused by someone else’s negligence.

Whether you were burned in a workplace accident, car crash, chemical spill, or household accident, you may be entitled to compensation. This is especially true if your burn was due to malfunctioning equipment or a careless driver. A skilled and experienced personal injury attorney can explain your legal options to you and represent you in filing a claim. Stephenson Rife law firm has helped hundreds of clients just like you to recover millions of dollars through settlement agreements and jury awards. To find out more about how we can help you, call us for a free initial consultation at (317) 680-2501.

How is a second-degree burn defined?

Second-degree burns are one of three types of burns you can sustain. Medical professionals define the three different kinds of burns this way:

1. First-degree burns

This is the least serious form of a burn, though it can still be painful. First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of the skin, such as a sunburn. While unpleasant, these burns typically do not cause lasting damage.

2. Second-degree burns

This type of burn means that the outer layer of your skin as well as the dermis – the layer underneath – has been burned and damaged. The skin will be swollen, bright red, wet and shiny looking. There will often be blisters. Milder second-degree burns are very painful to the touch but don’t cause scarring. More severe second-degree burns can cause a thickening of the skin and may cause scarring or permanently change the color of the skin.

3. Third-degree burns

These are the most severe and dangerous kinds of burns. Third-degree burns destroy two full layers of the skin and cause all-over thickening. The color of the skin may be white, yellow, black or brown, and there is no pain because nerve endings are destroyed.

Common causes of burn injuries

There are several different causes of burns, according to WebMD. The most severe burn injuries can cause scarring and lasting disfigurement. Some of the different causes of burns include:

• Thermal Burns
  Flames, scalding liquids, and very hot surfaces can burn the skin and cause it to die. These burns can happen in car accidents, kitchen mishaps, and on the job.
• Chemical Burns
  Harsh cleaning supplies, chemical spills, and laboratory solvents can cause burns.
• Radiation Burns
  X-rays, radiation used to treat cancer, and even sunburns involve radiation. Used incorrectly, these can cause burns.
• Cold Burns
  Otherwise known as frostbite, these burns are caused by extremely cold temperatures, often over a prolonged period.
• Electrical Burns These burns can be caused by electrical outlets, defective appliances, high-tension wires and large worksite equipment.
• Friction Burns
  If a hard object peels off some of your skin, you are said to have a friction burn. This can happen in motorcycle accidents when bare skin scrapes across asphalt.

Damages: How much is a second-degree burn worth?

While there is no average amount of an award for a second-degree burn injury, there are certain factors that can impact a payout. Some of these include:

• Severity of a burn
• Extent of disfigurement
• Amount of medical bills and the cost of future medical care needed
• Amount of lost wages — present and future
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages.

These are some, but not all, of the factors that can affect payout. Generally, the more severe and incapacitating the burn injury, the more a victim is awarded in damages. This is particularly true if another person caused your injury through negligence or if a company had a history of safety violations, which led to your burn injury.

The best way to get an accurate calculation of what your second-degree burn may be worth is to talk to a skilled Indianapolis burn injury lawyer. For a free consultation about your situation, call Stephenson Rife at (317) 680-2501.

How much does it cost to hire a burn injury lawyer?

If you’re wondering, “how much is a second-degree burn worth?” then the answer can depend, in part, on the aggressiveness and determination of your personal injury lawyer. At Stephenson Rife, our attorneys work on contingency in personal injury cases, which means that we don’t get paid until you get paid. Our attorney fees are paid by the defendant as part of a settlement agreement or jury award. If for some reason your claim is not successful, then you owe us nothing.

Contact Stephenson Rife burn injury lawyers today

The amount your second-degree burn is worth will depend on the strength of your case. A tested and tough burn injury lawyer knows what it takes to build a powerful, air-tight case. For that reason, Stephenson Rife is your best choice. Our attorneys have decades of legal experience, and our law firm has the deep financial resources to gather evidence, interview witnesses, review case law and hire expert witnesses, if needed. We will guide you through the legal process, so you don’t have to go it alone. We know the legal system can feel intimidating, and we’re always available to answer your questions no matter how small. Our team stays in constant communication with clients, and we keep you informed about the progress in your case every step of the way. Our firm prides itself on offering exceptional client service.

We want you to focus on getting medical treatment and recovering. Leave the legal heavy lifting to us. If you’re looking for a lawyer you can trust to negotiate aggressively and argue persuasively on your behalf, Stephen Rife, an experienced Indiana medical malpractice attorney, can do that. Whether you accept a settlement agreement, or we take a case to trial, we can assure you that we’ll work tirelessly to achieve the best outcome possible. To find out more, call us at (317) 680-2501.