Burn injuries range from minor to life-altering. Medical professionals classify them by severity, and if someone else’s negligence caused your burn injury, that classification matters enormously. The degree of your burn directly affects your legal claim and what you’re entitled to recover. Courts and insurance companies don’t treat all burns the same. They can’t, really, because the impact on your life varies so dramatically.
First Degree Burns
These burns only affect your skin’s outer layer, the epidermis. You’ll see redness, maybe some minor swelling, and it’ll hurt. Most heal within a week or so. Sunburns are the classic example. First-degree burns rarely need extensive medical treatment beyond some over-the-counter pain relief and moisturizer. They heal quickly without leaving scars, which means they typically won’t result in significant compensation. The temporary nature of these injuries translates to lower medical costs and minimal disruption to your daily routine. Insurance companies know this, and frankly, most people don’t pursue legal claims for first-degree burns unless they’re part of a larger injury.
Second Degree Burns
Now we’re talking about something more serious. Second-degree burns penetrate deeper, damaging both the epidermis and the layer underneath called the dermis. These create blisters. They’re painful. The burn area often looks wet or shiny, and you’ll see substantial swelling. Healing takes several weeks, and scarring is common. Doctors sometimes call these partial-thickness burns. They actually fall into two categories that matter for your claim. Superficial second-degree burns affect the upper dermis and usually heal within three weeks. Deep second-degree burns extend further down, require specialized wound care, and sometimes need skin grafting procedures. A Brooklyn burn injury lawyer can help you document everything properly from the start. Second-degree burns often require:
- Multiple medical appointments and specialized wound care visits
- Prescription medications for pain management and infection prevention
- Physical therapy to maintain mobility in the affected areas
- Ongoing treatment for scarring that impacts both appearance and function
Compensation for second-degree burns accounts for immediate medical costs and long-term scarring. If you’ve got visible scars on your face, hands, or other prominent areas, that increases the value of your disfigurement claim substantially. These aren’t just cosmetic concerns. Scarring can affect your career prospects, your relationships, and how you feel about yourself every single day.
Third Degree Burns
Third-degree burns destroy all layers of your skin. They may damage the underlying fat, muscle, and even bone. Here’s something that surprises people: these burns might hurt less initially because the nerve endings are destroyed. The skin looks white, black, brown, or leathery depending on what caused the burn. Full-thickness burns always require hospitalization and surgery. Patients typically need multiple skin graft surgeries, lengthy hospital stays, and months or years of rehabilitation. The physical toll is immense, and the emotional impact extends far beyond the initial injury. Third-degree burns create the highest value injury claims because they involve:
- Extended hospitalization, often in intensive care units
- Multiple surgical procedures spread over months or years
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement that can’t be fully corrected
- Lost wages during lengthy recovery periods
- Ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation for functionality
- Psychological counseling for trauma, PTSD, and body image issues
Many third-degree burn victims can’t return to their previous employment. If your work involves physical labor or public interaction, the scarring and physical limitations may end that career entirely. Lost earning capacity becomes a major component of what you’re owed, and calculating that requires careful analysis of what you would’ve earned over your entire working life. Working with A Brooklyn burn injury lawyer helps make these calculations much easier.
How Burn Severity Impacts Your Claim
Insurance companies scrutinize burn injury claims. They’ll examine your medical records, look at photographs, and review every detail of your treatment plan to verify how the burn’s been classified. This is why accurate medical documentation from day one strengthens your position when negotiations start. The liable party’s insurance will argue for the lowest possible classification. They want to minimize their payout. They might claim your second-degree burn was actually first degree, or that your third-degree burn affected a smaller area than what’s documented in your medical records. It’s their job to save money. Treatment costs vary dramatically. First-degree burns might cost a few hundred dollars total. Second-degree burns can reach tens of thousands once you factor in grafting procedures and follow-up care. Third-degree burns? They regularly exceed hundreds of thousands or even millions when you calculate lifetime care needs, lost income, and the permanent impact on your quality of life.
Getting Legal Help For Your Burn Injury
If you’ve suffered burn injuries because of someone else’s actions, the degree of your burn matters tremendously. Medical records and expert testimony establish the severity, but you need someone who understands how courts and insurance companies actually evaluate these claims in practice. The Edelsteins, Faegenburg, & Blyakher LLP has represented burn victims throughout Brooklyn for decades. We work with medical professionals who can properly document your injuries and testify about your future needs based on solid evidence and experience. Our firm will fight to make sure your settlement reflects the true impact of your injuries, whether you’re dealing with scarring from second-degree burns or facing years of reconstructive surgery from third-degree burns. Contact our team to discuss your specific situation and learn what compensation you may be entitled to receive.