Burns are complicated injuries, leaving many victims with permanent disfigurement and impaired mobility. However, burns can also prove fatal, depending on their size and the body area affected. Contact Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys if you lost a loved one to a burn injury. We can analyze what caused the burn and, if a negligent person is at fault, whether you can sue them for compensation. Our Atlanta wrongful death attorney explains more in this article.
Size of the Burn
Perhaps the most important factor regarding burns is their size. Doctors measure the total body surface area (TBSA) covered by the burn. Generally, the greater the TBSA, the greater the risk of fatality.
When a burn covers 20% of TBSA, then the victim’s mortality risk increases. They will need fluid resuscitation as treatment and have their vital signs monitored.
According to one study, adults are at “high risk” of death when 40% of their TBSA is covered by a burn. For children, the threshold is more than 60% TBSA.
Will a person automatically die if they suffer a burn of this size? Not necessarily. The threshold instead identifies when a person’s risk is highest. Patients can still benefit from immediate interventions, such as antibiotics or anti-catabolic agents. Burn victims might also benefit from surgery or innovative treatments. Nonetheless, when a burn passes these thresholds then risk of death is significant.
Age and Overall Health
The TBSA of the burn is not the only factor which determines when a burn is fatal. Another key consideration is the patient’s age.
Older victims are more vulnerable to infections and other serious complications which can lead to death. Children and younger adults are less likely to suffer fatal complications, which perhaps explains why a child’s TBSA threshold is higher than an adult’s.
Overall health matters, too. A healthy individual is more able to fight infection and survive a burn injury than someone whose health is already compromised with other issues, like diabetes or cancer.
Other Injuries
A burn victim might suffer other serious injuries in an accident. For example, a motorist might be burned in a truck accident when a fuel truck catches on fire. However, they also suffered serious internal organ injuries in the crash.
Similarly, a victim can suffer major electrocution burns. At the same time, they fall off a ladder and suffer a major brain injury. Their risk of death has increased as well.
Multiple serious injuries increase the likelihood of fatality. Nonetheless, the person responsible for the crash or accident is liable for the death.
Treatment
Quality of treatment is another factor impacting survival rates for burn injuries. Those who are treated at a burn center can receive quality care from experts, which can improve odds of recovery. By contrast, someone whose treatment is delayed is more at risk of death.
How People Suffer Burn Injuries
Fatal burn injuries happen in a variety of accidents:
- Electrocution accidents: Electrocution can burn the feet and internal organs. These are difficult burn injuries to treat because it is difficult to see the full extent of internal organ damage.
- Chemical burns. A victim could have acidic chemicals splashed onto their body, perhaps when they are injured in a workplace accident around chemicals.
- Fires. A car can catch on fire when involved in an accident, or possibly a person’s home or apartment catches on fire due to wiring defects.
- Camping accidents. Some victims were injured while camping. Perhaps they fell into a fire pit, or a fire leaped onto the clothing or tent. Young children can suffer burns because they do not appreciate the danger of fire pits or grills and end up running into them.
When a loved one dies, surviving family members should quickly call an attorney. We want to fully analyze what happened to determine fault. You might bring a wrongful death claim against the person responsible for the death, but we need to collect evidence. That is easier immediately after death.
Compensation After a Fatal Burn Injury
We might bring both a survival action and a wrongful death claim for a fatal burn injury:
Survival Action
A survival action seeks compensation for the estate for certain losses suffered by the victim, such as medical bills to treat their fatal burn injuries. We can also demand compensation for the victim’s conscious pain and suffering. These are damages your loved one could have claims had they survived the burn.
Survival actions make sense with burn accidents. Victims usually remain conscious for a time and receive medical treatment to prolong their life. They could incur six-figure medical bills and experience excruciating pain. The compensation for a survival action could be substantial, depending on the facts.
Wrongful Death
This type of claim seeks compensation for the damages suffered by family members because of the death. Typically, family members request compensation for loss of financial support and emotional damages. A common situation involves an adult who dies in their 30s or 40s and could have provided financial support to their spouse and children for decades.
The estate’s representative or executor files a wrongful death claim, and critical deadlines apply. Call Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys to discuss how much compensation is available in these types of cases. Our lawyers can move fast to protect your rights.
Discuss Your Case with an Atlanta Wrongful Death Attorney
Losing a family member to a burn injury is emotionally traumatic. Many family members are in the hospital for weeks, hoping their loved one can pull through. When their spouse or child passes, then the grief finally washes over them like a tidal wave.
Contact our law firm to discuss different lawsuits you can bring, such as a wrongful death or survival claim (or both). A lawyer will listen to you describe the fatal accident, as well as who you believe is responsible. Our firm can also perform an investigation and begin collecting evidence.
We have successfully negotiated settlements for wrongful death and survival actions. Call us at (404) 529-3476.