Types of Burn Injuries and Leading Causes Our Burn Injury Lawyers Handle

Although they are usually fairly painful, not all burn injuries are serious. Minor burns from accidentally brushing against a hot surface or spilling a hot but not scalding liquid on oneself typically only require at-home treatment. Serious burns, however, can be life-threatening.

Burns are categorized by severity in the following way:

• First-Degree Burns: The mildest type of burn injury, first-degree burns generally result in some reddening of the skin and may lead to light scarring. First-degree burns can typically be treated with a topical burn treatment medication, such as an antibiotic ointment, and over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen.
• Second-Degree Burns: Second-degree burns are more serious than first-degree burns but less severe than third-degree burns. They typically cause redness of the skin, blistering, and pain and may affect both the upper and lower levels of the skin. Professional medical treatment may be required for second-degree burns.
• Third-Degree Burns: Considered the most severe type of burn injury, third-degree burns affect both the top and bottom layers of the skin and may even cause damage to underlying tissue and bone. Third-degree burns may cause “charring” of the skin, which can appear white or black. Immediate medical treatment is critical and may include skin grafting, intravenous antibiotics, and more.

In addition to the severity of the burn, the extent of the affected area will also play a large role in the treatment of the injury and the victim’s prognosis. Burns covering a large percentage of the body will likely require medical treatment, even if the actual degree of the burn is relatively mild.

Common Causes of Thermal Burns

Thermal burns represent the most frequent type of burn injury and can result from various heat sources. Burns are tissue damage that results from too much sun, hot liquids, flames, chemicals, electricity, steam and other sources. Cooking accidents remain the leading cause of residential burn injuries, particularly in kitchen environments where hot oils, boiling water, and open flames create significant hazards. These incidents often occur when individuals accidentally come into contact with hot surfaces, spill scalding liquids, or experience grease fires.

House fires represent another major source of thermal burns, with heating equipment malfunctions and electrical issues serving as common ignition sources. When Workplace Injury Attorneys handle burn cases, they frequently encounter incidents involving industrial equipment, welding operations, and contact with heated machinery. Restaurant workers and food service employees face elevated risks due to constant exposure to hot cooking surfaces, steam, and boiling liquids.

Chemical and Electrical Burn Sources

Chemical burns occur when skin comes into contact with corrosive substances such as strong acids, alkaline materials, or industrial cleaning agents. These injuries are particularly common in workplace settings where employees handle hazardous chemicals without proper protective equipment. Manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and cleaning operations present heightened risks for chemical exposure incidents.

Electrical burns result from contact with live wires, faulty electrical equipment, or lightning strikes. Current travels through the body and meets resistance in tissue, resulting in heat burn injuries. These injuries can be deceptive because the visible skin damage may not reflect the extent of internal tissue damage. Aviation Injury Lawyers sometimes encounter electrical burns in cases involving aircraft maintenance or ground operations where high-voltage systems are present.

Car Accident Burn Injuries

Collisions involving passenger vehicles often result in burn injuries when fuel tanks rupture, electrical systems short out, or batteries overheat. Survivors may face severe thermal burns, smoke inhalation, or long-term respiratory complications. These incidents are particularly dangerous when occupants are unable to exit quickly due to jammed restraints or blocked doors.

Investigations in these cases require examining how the fire started, whether safety systems operated as designed, and whether a product defect contributed to the ignition or prevented escape. Survivors and families often turn to Car Injury Attorneys to understand their rights after post-collision fires. Careful analysis of vehicle design, rescue reports, and crash data helps determine liability and ensures the long-term consequences of these burn injuries are fully documented.

Truck Accident Burn Injuries

Fires following truck collisions are especially dangerous due to the size of the vehicles and the large amounts of diesel fuel they carry. When tanks rupture or hazardous cargo ignites, flames may spread rapidly across multiple vehicles. Occupants in smaller passenger cars are at heightened risk of severe burns, scarring, and permanent disability.

Truck-related burn cases often require reviewing not only driver negligence but also maintenance records, fleet safety practices, and vehicle design. In many instances, liability can extend beyond the truck operator to manufacturers or companies responsible for defective equipment. Truck Injury Attorneys can evaluate these factors, working with fire origin experts and engineers to determine the chain of hazards that led to catastrophic burn injuries.

Motorcycle Accident Burn Injuries

Motorcyclists have little protection from fire when crashes occur. Contact with leaking fuel, hot engine parts, or ignited debris can cause devastating burns even in low-speed collisions. In multi-vehicle accidents, riders are particularly vulnerable if pinned under another vehicle or if protective clothing cannot withstand prolonged exposure to heat and flames.

Burn injuries from motorcycle crashes may include deep thermal burns, scarring, and respiratory damage from inhaling smoke. These cases require evaluating both the crash itself and whether mechanical failures increased the severity of injuries. Families often consult Motorcycle Injury Attorneys to review liability, including whether defective components, roadway hazards, or other parties contributed to the fire. Coordination with Car Injury Attorneys may also be appropriate when motorcycles are involved in larger collisions that trigger vehicle fires.

Recognizing Serious Burn Injuries

Understanding when burn injuries require immediate professional medical attention can be crucial for recovery outcomes. Burns affecting the face, hands, feet, or genital areas always warrant emergency medical care, regardless of their apparent severity. Similarly, burns covering large body surface areas or penetrating through multiple skin layers require specialized treatment at burn centers.

Chemical burns demand immediate medical evaluation because the damage may continue progressing even after the initial exposure. Electrical burns also require prompt medical assessment due to the potential for internal injuries that may not be immediately visible. When burn injuries result from another party’s negligence or unsafe conditions, consulting with experienced personal injury attorneys can help protect your legal rights. These personal injury cases often involve complex liability issues that require thorough investigation while you focus on recovery.

Were Your Burn Injuries Caused by Negligence?

Whether your burns were caused by a fire, exposure to radiation, spilled liquids, or contact with electricity or chemicals, if someone else’s negligence led to the incident, you may have grounds to pursue legal action and seek compensation, depending on the facts of the case.

Some examples of when you may be able to seek compensation for your burn injuries include instances in which they are the result of:

• A defective product
• A workplace accident
• Auto Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Recreational Vehicle Accidents
• A maritime or offshore accident

Burn Injury Statistics: Annual Impact in the United States

Contact the Burn Injury Lawyers at The Ammons Law Firm

If you believe someone else is at fault for your or your loved one’s burn injuries, reach out to our Houston burn injury lawyers today. We have helped clients pursue compensation after sustaining catastrophic burn injuries. And, with a proven track record of more than $1 billion recovered for our clients, we are committed to advocating for our clients throughout litigation and settlement discussions.

To learn more about personal injury lawsuits, visit our personal injury resources and guide.