New Jersey Burn Injury Lawyers
Protecting the rights of those suffering from burn injuries throughout the state
If you suffered serious burn injuries from a fire, explosion, electrical shock, or chemical exposure, talk to a New Jersey personal injury lawyer on the burn injury litigation team at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP. We have offices in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River for the convenience of clients throughout the state. We work with fire officials, the police, and others to determine how the accident occurred, and who is responsible.
In one case, we obtained $1.4 million against a spa and a manufacturer for our client whose feet and ankles were burned due to the use of excessively hot water in a pedicure spa chair basin. Our client, a diabetic, who had regular pedicures which involved soaking his foot in hot water - spent several weeks hospitalized in a burn unit and endured numerous surgical procedures to save his legs. Unfortunately, one leg ultimately required an amputation below the knee.
How can we help?
- How common are serious burn injuries?
- What are the common causes of burn injuries in New Jersey?
- How are burn injuries classified?
- What treatments are available for burn injuries in New Jersey?
- Who is liable for burn injuries in New Jersey?
- What burn centers are located near me?
- Do you have a burn injury lawyer near me?
How common are serious burn injuries?
Nearly everyone has experienced a painful burn injury at some point in their lives. The American Burn Injury Association (ABA) estimates that about 450,000 patients are treated in emergency departments for burns each year in the United States. Of these burn injuries (which do not include burns treated in private medical offices, community health centers, or hospital clinics) about 3,400 people who suffer a serious burn injury will die each year. The following are a few statistics related to burn injuries from the ABA:
- 44% of admissions to burn centers result from fire or flame burns.
- Burn injuries are one of the leading causes of unintentional death and injury in the United States.
- Of the 3,400 burn injury deaths each year, about 2,550 are from residential fires, 300 of those are from vehicle crash fires, and 550 are from flames, smoke inhalation, scalding, and electricity.
- 96.7% of those treated in burn centers will survive.
What are the common causes of burn injuries in New Jersey?
Serious burn injury may result from any type of accident such as:
- Appliance, furnace, water heater, or gas grill explosion or fires
- Building fires
- Gas tank or fuel line explosion in a car accident
- Scalding, boiler injuries
- Electrical shock
- Chemical burns
- Weld tank or torch fire
Our experienced New Jersey burn injury attorneys understand the physical, emotional, and psychological injuries that occur when a client has suffered serious burns. Whether the burns occurred in a car crash, being in a burning building on someone else’s property, from a defective product, or in a workplace injury, we are here to pursue justice for you in the form of compensation for your injuries and other losses.
How are burn injuries classified?
Burns have a wide range of severity from causing pain and redness when you scald your skin from a steaming pot on the stove to the life-threatening third-degree burns that can penetrate through the layers of skin, fat, and muscle down to the bone. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has three classifications for burn injuries:
- First-degree burns cause injury to the top layer of the skin. These burns may cause redness, blistering, and pain and can be treated with first-aid ointment.
- Second-degree burns penetrate the first two layers of skin. These burns can cause significant scarring and, in some cases, require skin grafts to completely heal the burned areas. Second-degree burns result in searing pain and tissue damage that can take days and weeks to heal.
- Third-degree burns penetrate all the layers of skin. These burns destroy the layers of tissue and nerves, resulting in permanent scarring and potentially chronic pain. A third-degree burn will require skin grafts to repair and is susceptible to infection throughout the healing process. It can also lead to contracture, where the skin stiffens above the site of the burn, decreasing mobility and flexibility of the joints. When the burn is over the chest or beck, it can make it difficult to breathe.
Burns may also be classified as fourth, fifth, or sixth-degree burns if they extend into the fat, muscle, and bone respectively. Once a burn reaches this level, it is almost always a fatal injury.
What treatments are available for burn injuries in New Jersey?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that people who have burns covering 90 percent of their bodies can survive, but many will have permanent impairments. This remarkable improvement in the treatment of burn injuries can be attributed largely to NIH-sponsored research which revealed best practices for fluid resuscitation, wound cleaning, skin replacement, infection control, and nutritional support.
These advances have transformed clinical practice, improved survival rates, and improved the health, functioning, and quality of life for survivors of burn injuries. Advances in bioengineering and cell culturing techniques have allowed scientists to grow replacement skin based on a patient’s own tissues, which allow for more natural healing, better function, and less scarring than traditional wound dressings.
Seeking help for the emotional trauma of a burn injury
Pain is one of the lingering effects of burn injuries. Burns heal very slowly and as the layers of skin heal, it can cause tremendous pain and itching. Permanent scarring can cause disfigurement and contractures where scar tissues build up and may hinder the free movement of joints.
In addition to the physical damage caused by burns, the psychological damage left from extensive scarring on the face and other parts of the body can never be fully repaired. Even if they recover fully from the pain and physical injury, New Jersey burn victims with serious scar wounds and disfigurement face a lifetime of lost opportunities for employment and social acceptance. Burn victims face devastating psychological injuries caused by heavy scars, and from post-traumatic stress disorder from the memories of the traumatic accident.
Who is liable for burn injuries in New Jersey?
Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP works with fire investigators, the police, our own investigators, and other professionals to help show how the accident that caused your burn injuries started, and who is responsible. The defendants will vary depending on how the accident happened. Possible defendants include:
- Drivers and car owners
- Construction sites
- Manufacturers
- Worksite owners
- Building owners
- Many other defendants
What burn centers are located near me?
Most emergency rooms across New Jersey treat burn injuries, but some are so severe they require specialized care. There are currently two burn centers in New Jersey:
St. Barnabas Medical Center — Burn Center
101 Old Short Hills Rd.
Livingston, NJ
Hackensack University Medical Center
30 Prospect Ave.
Hackensack, NJ
Do you have a burn injury lawyer near me?
Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP meets clients at our offices located in:
- Edison, NJ at 40 Ethel Road and
- Toms River, NJ at 563 Lakehurst Road
We meet clients who are immobile at their homes, burn centers, and other healthcare facilities. We also conduct interviews by telephone and Zoom.
Our New Jersey burn injury lawyers understand the unique challenges involved with burn injury claims. We work aggressively to hold the responsible parties accountable for all your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of function, and other damages.
Talk with our aggressive NJ burn injury lawyers today
At Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP, our burn injury lawyers handle serious burn injury cases involving catastrophic injuries and long-term physical and financial damages. We have earned a reputation for integrity among judges and insurance defense attorneys. When we accept a case, it will be thoroughly prepared with the clearest evidence possible for maximum money damages. Call or contact us to arrange a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey burn injury lawyer in Edison, Toms River, or Red Bank.