Burn Injuries and E-Cigarettes

Burn injuries have a wide range of causes and levels of severity, ranging from mild to severe and even life-threatening. The American Burn Association estimates that more than 1 million burn injuries are sustained in the U.S. each year; about 45,000 of these require hospitalization and around 4,500 burn injury victims may lose their lives. If you’ve suffered a burn injury due to the negligence of your employer or another person or entity, speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Burn injuries are typically classified as first-, second-, or third-degree. First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin with minimal tissue damage, though it may hurt during recovery and turn the skin red and dry. Second-degree burns damage the first two skin layers and commonly involve blistering and intense pain; the skin may become red and swollen, though scarring is minimal. Third-degree burns involve damage to all skin layers and even muscle, fat, or bone tissue; the skin may be left leathery and charred, and destroyed nerve-endings may initially interfere with pain resulting from the burn.
While first- and second-degree burns are often treatable at home with little to no permanent damage, third-degree burns require immediate medical attention to prevent further medical complications beyond damage to the skin. Burns affecting more than 15 – 20% of an adult’s body may require constructive surgery, skin grafting, and long-term hospitalization and rehabilitation.
Some serious accidents which may result in burn injuries include auto accidents, defective product accidents, fuel-fed fires, and workplace explosions, and some burn injuries which may involve the negligence of a business or other entity include:
– Chemical burns from solvents, acids, and similar substances used in the workplace or common products such as household cleaners;
– Chemical vapor burns, particularly in the eyes or mucous membranes;
– Electrical burns which damage deep tissue and internal organs;
– Thermal burns from steam or hot objects or liquids;
– Radiation burns from defective medical imaging devices or excessive fluoroscopy.
E-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes), which continue to be sold with relatively few regulations, have also been linked to severe burn injuries due to allegedly defective product design. E-cigarettes use an internal electrical heat source, activated by pressing a button, to vaporize a liquid containing nicotine for inhalation and exhalation. They are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and some have resulted in dangerous explosions, such as in two cases out of Florida: one man had an e-cigarette actually explode inside his mouth, causing burns to his face, throat, and lungs as well as a temporary coma; and in February of this year, the same type of explosion occurred in the face of a Florida woman and also resulted in her automobile catching fire.
If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury in an accident due to negligence, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.