Burn Injuries and Household Chemicals
Burn injuries affect many people each year. Burns can be caused by many factors, including heat, electricity, gases, friction, or chemicals. Burn injuries can be some of the most painful injuries and they usually require extensive medical care. Unfortunately, these medical expenses can add up quickly. Our burn injury lawyers represent burn injury victims to ensure they are adequately compensated for the full range of damages suffered. If you have suffered a burn injury from a household chemical, you may have a legal case. However, most burn injuries involving household chemicals are not the fault of our Oklahoma City, OK clients. Our attorneys can gather the evidence that is necessary to prove liability in a case involving burn injuries from household chemicals.
Types of Chemical Burns
Chemical burns are different from burns that are caused by heat or gases. Chemicals break down and liquefy the skin, allowing the chemicals to penetrate the body. Like thermal burns, chemical burns can be classified into categories based on the extent of damage they cause. Below are the three types of chemical burns:
- Superficial chemical burn: This type of burn causes damage only to the top layer of the skin.
- Partial thickness chemical burn: This type of burn penetrates the second layer of skin, or the dermal layer.
- Full thickness chemical burn: This is the most severe type of chemical burn. It penetrates the third, and deepest layer, of the skin.
Damages of Chemical Burns
A chemical burn can cause all types of damage. The type of damage that is suffered will depend upon the amount of exposure, the type of chemical that was involved, and the part of the body that came into contact with the chemical. While each burn injury is unique, these are some of the most common symptoms of a burn injury from household chemicals:
- Burning sensation
- Skin redness or irritation
- Pain or numbness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of vision (if the chemical came into contact with the eyes)
Chemical burns often require extensive physical and emotional care. Some treatments that may be necessary following a chemical burn include skin grafts, pain management, cosmetic surgery, physical therapy, and emotional therapy.
Causes of Chemical Burns
Some chemical burns are caused by products that are kept around the home. Chemicals such as bleach and ammonia are commonly found in household cleaning products. Even household items such as pool chlorine and teeth whitening products can cause serious burns. When these products are defective, or fail to provide adequate warnings or use instructions, injuries can occur. Our attorneys can investigate the cause of a burn accident to determine where the liability lies. If a burn injury is the result of negligence, that person or party can be held liable for the full range of physical, emotional, and financial damages suffered.
Contact Us
If you have suffered from a burn injury, you may be due financial compensation for damages suffered. Contact us at your earliest convenience to discuss the details of your case with our team of experienced attorneys at Tawwater Law Firm, PLLC.