Burn Classification — Burn Staging
DEGREE OF BURN:
Burns are classified as first, second or third-degree, depending on how deep and severe they penetrate the skin surface. The treatment for a burn is influenced by its degree.
First Degree Burns: First degree burns affect only the skin surface, also known as the epidermis. The burn site often is red, painful and dry. Sunburn is a good example of a first degree burn.
Second Degree Burns: Second Degree Burns penetrate the skin surface and involve the next lawyer of skin tissue known as the dermis. The burn site is often red, blistered, swollen and painful. These burns are frequently caused by scalding injuries from hot fluids, flames and brief skin contact with a hot object.
Third Degree Burns: Third Degree Burns are deep burns that destroy the outer and inner skin protections. In these burns the epidermis and dermis tissue is destroyed. Often times in a third degree burn in addition to skin damage, bones, tendons and muscles are also injured. The skin appears to be white or charred. In a third degree burn nerve tissue is also damaged causing varying amounts of pain. Like second degree burns, third degree burns are frequently caused by a scalding liquid, skin that comes into contact with a hot object, flames and electrical or chemical contact.
METHOD OF BURN:
Burns are also classified by the agent or substance that caused injury to the skin. The treatment of a burn is also influenced by the substance that caused it.
Michael Kaplen, president of Brain Injury Association, introducing, ABC News Anchor Bob Woodruff at annual meeting
Thermal Burns: These burns are caused by flames, contact or coming into close proximity with heat from fire, steam, hot liquids or other hot objects.
Chemical Burns: These burns are caused by skin contact with caustic chemical substances.
Electrical Burns: These burns are caused by electric current, lightening, electricity or electrocution.
Radiation Burns: These burns are frequently caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun and nuclear sources.
No Fee Payable Until Conclusion of Case
The New York burn injury lawyers at DeCaro & Kaplen, LLP will represent you for your burn injury on a contingency fee basis. This means that no fee is due to our law firm until the conclusion of the case based upon any recovery that we receive for your burn injury. If no recovery is received, then you owe us nothing. For a free, no obligation legal consultation regarding your burn injury, contact a New York burn injury lawyer at De Caro & Kaplen, LLP. Call us toll free at 1 866 BRAIN LAW. We represent burn victims in New York City and throughout New York State. We can work with you on your burn injury case in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and Queens as well as the surrounding counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Westchester. We also handle burn injury cases in other areas of New York including Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and adjoining areas.
