Burns is a traumatic injury that affects over nearly 500,000 people every year. In severe cases, the mental and physical injuries are long-lasting and requiring years of painful treatment.
When burn injuries happen because of the negligence of others, the victim has the right to contact Indianapolis burn injury lawyers and seek compensation. In this instance, when a tenant suffers burn injuries because of a landlord’s carelessness, they are responsible for medical expenses, pain, and suffering, and other damages incurred.
Burn Injury Facts
Medical professionals measure the severity of burns by the depth of the sustained damage and how much of the body it covers.
The four burn injury classifications are first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree burns.
First-degree burns are typically minor burn injuries. Most of the time, these wounds do not require medical attention; an example of this classification of burn is a sunburn.
With second-degree burns, the affected area reaches the second layer of skin. Burn injuries that reach the dermis can cause scarring. In severe cases, using skin grafts is the only way to protect a victim against infection.
Third-degree burns are the most acute skin burns. They reach the fatty layer and do damage to nerve cells.
The deepest, most destructive burns fall in the fourth-degree burn classification. The burn injury can be fatal and reaches the bone, tendons, and muscle.
Blistering, swelling, and scarring are all results of burn injuries. The most serious cases lead to the victim’s death. When seeking treatment, every step requires documentation from medical or burn unit staff, victims, and victim’s families.
Causes of Burn Injuries
Fire, hot liquids or objects, electricity, and chemicals can all cause burn injuries. The resulting trauma is sometimes accidents, but because of another’s negligence. For example, tenants can suffer burn injuries because of the carelessness of their landlord’s actions or lack of action.
The ways a renter can suffer burns in their apartment or house vary.
Defective and poorly maintained appliances can lead to serious burn injuries. It can be water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces, or any other equipment that a landlord fails to upkeep.
A hidden threat in apartments or homes is frayed or faulty electrical wiring. Many times a tenant is unaware of these issues until it is too late. Electrical burns bring their own level of danger. They can injure a victim’s skin and internal organs.
Overloaded and faulty outlets and switches put everyone in an apartment at risk for a burn injury. Sparks, overheating, and outlet fires are dangerous and, without proper caution, leads to severe wounds.
Landlords are responsible for the upkeep of their units, and that includes anything that might cause a fire or burn injury. The failure to ensure the safety of their tenants amounts to negligence, which means they are responsible for medical costs, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting in a burn injury.
The Responsibility of Landlords
State laws differ when it comes to the legal liability of landlords. In Indiana, for instance, they must disclose to their tenants about outstanding building inspections and all housing violations. The disclosure must also include fire and carbon monoxide detector maintenance schedule and detail their installation.
Even if no disclosure takes place, faulty wiring and appliances fall under the landlord’s responsibility to ensure the safety of their tenants.
However, a landlord is not responsible for a renter’s actions that result in damage to equipment or structural aspects. But, it is also up to them to present documentation that clears them of responsibility in the case of an accident.
Regardless of the burn injury, if it happens at a rented apartment or home, contact an attorney to find out your rights. Medical expenses and lost wages add up quickly, and the sooner a lawyer becomes part of the process, the better it is for everyone involved.
Burn Injury Damages
Severe burn injuries sometimes result in skin grafts, plastic surgery, and physical therapy. Because of the trauma that burns cause, psychological treatment might be part of the treatment plan. The consequences are the loss of work and the inability to practice day-to-day activity.
If a victim or victim’s attorney proves negligence, damages are recoverable. It is the best policy to hire an attorney as soon as possible. Medical expenses, rehab, lost wages, lost possessions, and pain and suffering are all recoverable. Remember to document everything.
If you or someone you love is a victim of burn injuries as the result of landlord negligence, contact Indianapolis burn injury lawyers to prevent further victimization. Whether it is a scalding wound or a fourth-degree burn injury, it is the right of the tenant to seek damages in the case of negligence.
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