Connecticut Fire and Burn Injury Legal Advocacy

Eagan & Donohue’s fire and burn injury legal team has handled numerous wrongful death matters and injury claims involving victims of fire and burn related trauma.

Fires cause devastating injuries and substantial damage regardless of where they occur.  Burn injuries unfortunately routinely happen to children and can be caused in a number of ways unrelated to fires.  Each year, more than 300 children die from fire or burn injuries and close to 100,000 are treated for burn injuries in hospitals.  Our firm recognizes that behind each one of the data points making up these statistics is a child who is unique and special, and so these numbers are frightening and indicate the need to protect our children from dangerous accidents.

Fire and Burn Injuries

Fire leads to some of the most devastating injuries a person can receive in an accident and often leave devastating scars which follow you the rest of your life.    The American Burn Association Reports that each year over 1 million injuries treated in hospitals and clinics are attributed to burns.  While not all of these injuries require hospitalization, many can result in severe injuries and even death.  Burns are not always related to fires, but can also be caused by:

• Fires from car accidents
• Fires from space heaters
• House fires
• Hot liquids
• Chemicals
• Electrical

Fires are unfortunately quite common during winter months when people are more apt to use space heaters and fireplaces in order to heat their house.  Space heaters are quite likely to short out or be left on for too long, while some chimneys and fireplaces are more prone to causing fires due to negligent maintenance.

Burn injuries are categorized according to their severity, and can range anywhere from incredibly minor to life threatening.

First degree burns are the most minor type of burn, and you can hardly tell that an injury has occurred.  In a first degree burn, only the outer layer of skin is affected and dissipates within a few days.

Some second degree burns are classified as “partial thickness” burns and the injuries often look pink or red, as well as wet.  The burn can take up to 21 days to heal with minimal scarring, and are often caused by curling iron injuries, hot water, and minimal fire contact.  However, a “full thickness” second degree burn destroys the entire outer layer of skin and requires medical attention through skin grafting.

In third degree burns all layers of the skin are destroyed.  The burned areas will look black or white and will be dry or leathery in texture.  These burns are often caused by severe fires which affect an individual at different points throughout their body.

Fourth degree burns are the most severe and extend from the skin layers into the muscle and bone.  These injuries can quickly become life threatening, and individuals who have fourth degree burns throughout their body must be medically treated immediately after the injuries, requiring intensive care.

Eagan & Donohue | West Hartford, Connecticut Personal Injury Legal Team

Burn injuries often require extensive medical treatment, which has costs that quickly start to add up.  If you have been injured by a fire or other accident that caused extensive burning, you should not be forced to pay for the cost of your injuries.  Your body may be permanently disfigured by the injuries, and you may be unable to hold a job after being injured.  The person responsible for your injuries should be held accountable.

Contact the Connecticut fire and burn injury legal team at Eagan & Donohue at our West Hartford office and we can discuss with you the next steps you might take toward receiving the compensation you deserve for your injuries.