A burn injury always carries the possibility of being devastating, but especially when the burn occurs on or near your hand. Your hands are the key to holding your loved ones, performing at work, and simply doing everyday tasks like driving and carrying things. Consequently, when a burn injury threatens your ability to use your hands, the effects can be totally debilitating.
The debilitating effects of burn injuries to your hand are not only physically debilitating but financially and emotionally as well. Additionally, they can strike at any time in a wide variety of different scenarios. That’s why it’s important to not only be aware of the risks of hand burn injuries in Kentucky, but to also have a plan in place should you suffer one of these unfortunate accidents.
Experienced and Resourceful Kentucky Burn Injury Lawyers
Any burn injury that threatens your livelihood and overall quality of life not only requires expert medical care, but the help and support of experienced Kentucky burn injury lawyers. At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC we have such a team in place. Our years serving clients throughout Kentucky has given us a wealth of knowledge and resources to help make sure you can get the support you need to deal with hand burn injuries.
To learn more about we can help you do this, contact us for a free consultation.
Types of Kentucky Hand Burn Injuries
When you think about the number of different uses and functions of your hands, it’s easy to see why a burn injury to one–-or both—can be so devastating. A hand burn injury, which is caused by exposure to a heat source, chemicals, electricity or even radiation, affects your hands:
- Skin
- Tissue
- Nerves
Burns are classified into four categories based on the extent of damage ranging from first-degree, which are relatively minor to fourth-degree, which are the most severe. Most burns, especially to the hands, are a combination of two or more of these degrees:
- First Degree – First-degree burns happen on the outermost layer of skin, first degree burns usually present as redness, pain, and discomfort. These burns can be treated with over-the-counter medication, like ointments or salves, on the hand and around the affected area.
- Second Degree – A second-degree hand burn is categorized by affecting the underlying layer of skin on the hand. If you have suffered a second-degree hand burn, expect it to take weeks to heal and require treatment from a doctor. Second-degree burns may cause hardening of tendons or other tissue of the hands.
- Third Degree – A third-degree burn goes through all layers of skin on the hand, and damages the underlying tissue and nerves. As such, they are extremely painful and usually destroy skin, nerves, and leave scarring on your hand. Third-degree hand burns require immediate medical attention, ongoing treatment (including skin grafts) and pain management.
- Fourth Degree – A fourth-degree hand burn is the most severe burn injury that you can suffer. It involves permanent damage to your hand’s tissue, bones, and muscles. In extreme cases, amputation of the hand may be advised, since the burn causes irreversible damage to the tendons, muscles, and nerves where the burn occurred.
Obviously, the level of severity of an individual burn can vary, especially depending on circumstances like where and how the burn occurred. Further, if the burn injury occurred at work or at a place you were visiting, you may have further claims available to you, like a workers’ compensation or premises liability claim to consider.
How Do Hand Burn Injuries Happen in Kentucky?
When most people think of burn injuries, they think of open flames or fires. While these are definitely a common cause of burn injuries, there are actually a wide variety of different ways a burn injury can happen to you in Kentucky, particularly burn injuries to your hands.
Among the most common ways hand burn injuries happen include:
- Burns in the workplace – While some workplaces are certainly more hazardous than others, especially in Kentucky, there are some jobs that are more likely to lead to burn injuries. Constructions workers, welders, and restaurant workers frequently work near open flames and hot cooking utensils that can easily burn hands. Elsewhere, electricians or mechanics that are working on open wires and hot car parts can also lead to hand burns.
- Burns from a defective or malfunctioning product – Not every product works the way it’s intended to. This can be especially hazardous if the product has a heating element. Common household items like toasters, ovens, stoves, heaters, or curling irons can lead to burn injuries to your or your children’s hands that can be extremely painful.
- Burns at a restaurant, hotel, or other business – Every place of business in Kentucky has a duty to keep its customers and patrons safe while they are on the premises. When they fail to do that, burn injuries can happen. Hand burn injurires are common in places like restaurants when a hot plate or dish contacts a person’s hand, while other businesses or hotel rooms can have heaters or other devices that can overheat or malfunction, leading to you or a loved one suffering a debilitating hand burn injury.
Hand Burn Injury Cases in Kentucky
If you have suffered a hand burn injury due to negligence, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit under Kentucky law. The resulting personal injury claim can be brought against any of the following:
- The person who caused the accident that led to the hand burn injury
- Your employer, if the hand burn occurred at work
- A company or entity that manufactured a defective product that caused the hand burn
- A company that owns the building or business where the hand burn occurred.
If successful, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages.
Potential Damages
No matter who the liable party is, a successful Kentucky hand burn injury claim offers the possibility of recovering damages that can include:
- Cost medical and personal care, both current and ongoing.
- Loss of income and enjoyment of life
- Costs related to permanent disfigurement, scarring, disabilities, and impairments
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish from the injury and treatment
- Costs related to psychological injuries, including inconvenience, embarrassment, depression, and anxiety.
- Costs related to counseling and ongoing therapy to help cope with the long-term effects of severe burn injuries
Statute of Limitations
Like any potential case in Kentucky, a hand burn personal injury case has a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is a legally mandated timeframe in which you can file a lawsuit. In Kentucky, you have one year from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline usually means you forfeit your right to file a lawsuit and recover damages.
Let An Experienced Kentucky Hand Burn Injury Lawyer Help You
Placing a value on the long-term physical, emotional, and psychological effects of a serious hand burn injury can be challenging. Fortunately, Kafuman & Stigger, PLLC has developed a vast network of medical experts, professionals, and other burn injury specialists to determine a proper accounting of the damages from your hand burn injury.
If you or a loved one has suffered a hand burn injury anywhere in Kentucky, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our team today by contacting us.
