These include appliances such as toasters, refrigerators and dryers as well as space heaters.

Fireworks

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 11,900 people were injured by fireworks in 2015.

Chemical burns

These burns are due to exposure to chemicals such as drain cleaners or other acidic products. According to the American Burn Association, these burns account for 7% of all burn injuries.

• Document everything

  If you or someone is hurt, your priority is to make sure everyone is okay. But as soon as possible, make notes and take pictures of what you feel may have contributed to the incident. Summarize any conversations you had with fire or law enforcement officials. You can visit the site of the fire or take pictures of a burned vehicle later if needed. Make sure the evidence is not destroyed or altered. Ask a burn injury attorney about obtaining a court order to keep anyone from destroying evidence.

• Take photos of the injuries

  Pictures are important in telling a burn injury story. Take pictures as soon as possible, before the injuries are healed.

• Get copies of fire and police reports

  Fire departments write reports of their calls, even in the case of minor fires. If law enforcement is involved get a copy of their report.

• Document all medical treatments

  Severe burn victims are often at a trauma center first before they are transferred to a burn center. Burns often require after-care such as skin grafts, therapy and in some cases, counseling to help cope. Make sure you have records of all the treatments and the expenses related to them.

• Other expenses

  If you are not the one suffering a burn injury, you may be their caregiver. As the caregiver you may experience lost wages due to time spent away from work. You or your loved one may be at a burn center that is miles from your residence and you incur hotel, meals and lodging expenses. Record all the expenses.

• Guard your conversations

  Insurance agents will have a team of attorneys working for them after an incident causing a severe burn injury. You are not required to talk to them. Do not talk with them or take any settlement without talking to a burn injury attorney first.

• First-degree burns
  
  Have you ever touched a hot pan on the stove? That pain and redness is a first-degree burn. Sunburns can also be classified as first-degree burns. These burns only affect the outer layer of the skin and rarely serious.
  
  
• Second-degree burns
  
  Think about that hot pan on the stove again. Was it filled with boiling water? If you dump that water on you, you will likely have a second-degree burn. The hot water may cause some of the skin to burn away. You can experience these types of burns in any type of fire. These burns may take weeks to heal.
  
  
• Third-degree burns
  
  This type of burn pierces the skin. You may have no pain because the burn has destroyed the nerves. You may notice your skin is leathery or even white due to the burn. New skin does not grow on third-degree burn sites. These types of burns have a poor prognosis. Treatment may include skin grafts to replace charred skin. This requires removing healthy skin from another part of the body and placing it on the burn site.
  
  
• Fourth-degree burns
  
  This burn has not only pierced through the skin, but it has also reached organs. Prognosis is poor for people with four-degree burns and in most cases, these injuries are fatal.
  
  

• Medical expenses
  
  Burns can require expensive treatments such as skin grafts, amputations, and wound care. If the cause of the burn was not your fault, you or your insurance company should not have to pay for these expenses. Some companies will try to pay less by citing a preexisting condition such as diabetes or heart disease, saying it is impeding the healing process. They will agree to only so many weeks of treatment. A burn injury lawyer will fight to get your medical expenses 100% covered.
  
  
• Lost wages
  
  Unless you are wealthy, lost work time hurts your pocketbook and hampers your ability to pay your bills. If it wasn’t for your burn injury, you would be at work. A burn injury attorney will help you recover not just lost wages but future wages you may lose because you can no longer work.
  
  
• Pain and suffering
  
  As mentioned earlier, California law does not cap personal injury claims. You are entitled to pain and suffering due to your burn injury for several reasons. · The injury resulted in a major change in your lifestyle. You may have to quit your job or an enjoyable hobby. You may not be able to do the same activities you once did with your children.