First Degree Burns

If anyone tries to tell you a first-degree burn “isn’t that serious,” that’s probably because they’ve never had one. This type of burn may not be as severe as other types of burn injuries, but it’s still extremely painful, and carries the risk of long-term complications. If you’ve suffered a first-degree burn due to the negligence of someone else, you may be able to pursue compensation.

The McEwen Law Firm has a team of attorneys who are experts in representing clients who have suffered burns through no fault of their own. If you would like to learn more about how we may be able to help you, please contact us online or call (800) 732-3070 for a free consultation.

What is a First Degree Burn?

A first degree burn affects the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin. While this type of burn is typically not fatal, it can still result in long-term pain as well as scarring. The incident that led to the burn can also lead to a lifetime of emotional trauma.

In most cases, first-degree burns will heal. However, complete healing can take weeks or even longer. The most common symptoms include pain, swelling and redness. The severity of symptoms – and the time it will take to heal the injury – will typically depend on the amount of skin that has been affected. If a larger area of skin has been burned, healing will take longer.

First-degree burn victims will usually not need extensive medical treatment, but complications can occur, such as fever or infection. If those issues aren’t addressed as quickly as possible, the consequences could be very serious.

Causes of First Degree Burns

As you can probably imagine, there are a lot of different ways that someone can suffer a first-degree burn. They can occur at home, at work, and even on the road when someone is involved in a car accident.

These are just a few of the different kinds of accidents that can lead to this type of injury:

• Propane gas explosions
• Chemical burn accidents
• Electrical burn accidents
• Vehicle explosions
• Construction accidents
• And many others

Negligence can often contribute to an accident that leads to a burn injury. It could take the form of a reckless driver, a careless co-worker, a faulty piece of equipment, or something else. That’s why it will be so important to get the help of a skilled burn injury attorney as soon as possible. This will be your best – and possibly only – chance of obtaining compensation for the suffering you’ve been forced to endure.

Treatment for First Degree Burns

Any sort of burn can involve a great deal of pain, as well as the possibility of permanent disfigurement. Thankfully, first-degree burns don’t typically require extensive medical treatment. However, you should always contact a doctor if this kind of injury happens to you. A medical professional will perform an examination to verify how deep the burn has penetrated into the skin, and to prescribe medication to not only reduce discomfort, but also the threat of infection.

In general, a doctor will typically treat a first-degree burn in the following manner.

• They will sometimes apply a cold compress (possibly a cloth immersed in cold water) to the affected area in order to reduce pain.
• You may also receive an antibacterial cream to lessen the risk of an infection developing.
• You may receive other ointments or creams to reduce swelling and discomfort.
• The doctor may also recommend that you take over-the-counter medications. These typically include ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
• A first-degree burn will usually not require the use of a bandage.

However, there are some instances where medical attention will be needed, such as if the affected area either develops an infection, or becomes unbearably painful. Also, certain areas of the body, such as the hands, groin, feet and face, will often require more involved treatment methods.

The Healing Process

Most people who suffer a first-degree burn will go through a fairly lengthy healing process, which, as stated earlier, will often take weeks. These are just a few of the issues you might experience if this injury has happened to you.

• Scarring. There are some instances where a first-degree will affect a joint, such as the wrist or elbow. If significant scarring develops in this area, that could limit movement for a certain period of time. This could result in the need for physical therapy in order to regain as much range of motion as possible.
• Skin contraction. This typically occurs with more severe burns, but there is a chance that your body may use the surrounding skin to heal your wound, making that area smaller in the process. This could also lead to a reduced range of motion that will require physical therapy.
• Sense of touch issues. Again, a first-degree burn will usually not lead to any kind of nerve damage. However, if it does that might affect your sense of touch until the nerves regenerate. This can take a great deal of time, and could result in a permanent change to this sensation.

Long-Term Outlook

The above issues are just potential parts of the healing process – not every first-degree burn victim will experience them. In the large majority of cases, people eventually heal completely. However, it could take three weeks or longer.

Contact McEwen Law Today for a Free Case Evaluation

Hopefully, you will eventually heal 100% after a first-degree burn. But that doesn’t mean those responsible for your injury should avoid accountability. A skilled attorney with McEwen Law can fight for your rights and help you obtain full and fair compensation.

Our law firm not only has a great deal of experience in this area of the law, we also have a long track record of obtaining results for those we represent. We will be ready to do the same for you. Please don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as you can for a free case review. You can use our online contact form, or you can give us a call at (800) 732-3070.