Understanding The Long-Term Effects of Burn Injuries

The American Burn Association reports that around 400,000 people seek professional medical care for burns and burn-related ailments each year. Burns are notoriously painful injuries. They can have serious adverse long-term effects. Indeed, the complications of a burn injury are often significant. It is imperative that victims are able to get access to all of the resources that they need to recover from an accident. Here, our Charleston burn injury lawyer discusses the long-term effects of bad burns.

A Brief Overview of Burn Classification

Burn injuries can vary dramatically in their cause, kind, and severity. We understand that experiencing a burn injury can be both physically painful and emotionally overwhelming. Please know that you’re not alone on this journey toward healing. Gaining a better understanding of your injury is useful. There is a three-category system used to classify burn injuries in South Carolina:

• First-Degree Burns: First-degree burns are the mildest type of burn injury. They affect only the outermost layer of your skin, called the epidermis. Common symptoms include redness, minor inflammation, and pain in the affected area. You might notice that the skin becomes dry and tender to the touch—much like a mild sunburn. While these burns can be uncomfortable, they usually heal within a week without leaving any scars. 

• Second-Degree Burns: Second-degree burns are more serious and extend deeper into the skin, reaching the dermis layer beneath the epidermis. These burns often result in blisters, severe redness, swelling, and more intense pain. The skin may appear wet or shiny due to fluid loss from damaged tissues. Healing might take several weeks. Infection is a big risk.

• Third-Degree Burns: Third-degree burns are severe injuries that affect all layers of the skin and may even impact underlying tissues like muscles or bones. The affected area might look white, blackened, or charred, and surprisingly, it may not hurt due to nerve damage. These burns require immediate medical attention and often involve specialized treatments. A skin graft or other type of surgical operation may be required.

Know the Long-Term Effects of Burns

Beyond being extraordinarily painful, severe burns can have a wide range of other long-term adverse effects. Some of the most common mid-term and long-term complications that are associated with serious burn injuries in South Carolina include:

• Scarring: It is not uncommon for serious burns to leave long-lasting, often permanent scarring. Scarring is one of the most common burn complications. Scarring from burns can result in thickened, discolored patches of skin that may not only alter appearance but also impair mobility. These scars can develop into keloids—which are itchy and uncomfortable. 

• Hypermetabolism: Hypermetabolism is an accelerated metabolic rate that occurs as the body’s response to burn trauma. It is a condition that can complicate recovery by increasing the demand for nutrients to heal tissues. It often requires nutritional supplements and care from a medical professional experienced with burn recovery.

• Contracture: Contractures occur when the burn scars pull the edges of the skin together, causing tightness and restricting movement of the affected area, which can severely limit mobility and functionality. They commonly develop in joints and can be difficult to manage.

• Depression: Depression is a common psychological consequence of burn injuries, manifesting as persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and withdrawal from social interactions. The visible scars and physical limitations can exacerbate feelings of low self-esteem and isolation

• Anxiety: Burn victims often report anxiety—especially if they have significant (visible) scarring. Anxiety in burn survivors can include constant worry about recovery, fear of future injuries, or distress about changes in their appearance.

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD can develop after the traumatic event, including a severe burn. The symptoms of PTSD can take many different forms and may include uncontrollable thoughts about the incident. Survivors may need to avoid situations that remind them of the trauma.

• Increased Disease Risk: In some cases, a severe burn injury can actually increase the victim’s long-term susceptibility to diseases and other medical complications. Ongoing medical assessments and preventive care may be required after a serious accident.

Recovering Compensation for Your Burn Injury in South Carolina

In South Carolina, injured victims have a right to seek compensation for tangible and intangible losses. Through a personal injury claim, you may be entitled to recover compensation for a wide range of different losses. However, defendants and insurers can put a lot of pressure on people. They fight aggressively to try to pay out less in settlement negotiations. Our Charleston, SC burn injury lawyer helps victims seek financial compensation for:

• Emergency room care;
• Hospital bills;
• Medical expenses;
• Physical therapy;
• Mental health support;
• Loss of wages;
• Loss of earning power;
• Pain and suffering;
• Emotional distress; and
• Permanent scarring.

Burn Victims Scar Deserve Compensation

Burns can leave bad scars—especially if it is a second-degree burn or, even more dangerous, a third-degree burn. Scarring from a burn injury is more than skin deep—it can impact your emotional well-being and confidence for years to come. In South Carolina, you are entitled to seek compensation for non-economic damages like scarring. It is a type of compensation that acknowledges the pain, suffering, and changes to your quality of life that scars can bring. The purpose of this compensation is to help address the emotional distress and any ongoing challenges you may face. Remember, documenting how the scarring affects your daily life can strengthen your personal injury claim. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to undervalue non-economic damages. Our South Carolina burn injury lawyer fights aggressively to help injured victims secure the absolute maximum compensation for their scarring injuries.

Contact Our Charleston, SC Burn Injury Attorney Today

Attorney Trey Harrell is a personal injury attorney who puts the rights and interests of victims first.

We have the knowledge, skills, and legal expertise to take on the full range of burn injury cases. Call us now or contact us online for your free, confidential case review. With a law office in Charleston, our firm handles burn injury cases throughout all of South Carolina.

Remember Trey Helps!