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A Kansas City accident victim’s guide to burn injuries

In the United States, approximately 2.4 million burn injuries are reported every year. About 650,000 of these injuries require medical treatment and about 75,000 burn victims are hospitalized. More than 20,000 of those hospitalized have severe burns covering at least one-quarter of the body surface. These injuries require extensive treatment and rehabilitation.

Burn injuries are second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Between 8,000 and 12,000 people die each year from burn injuries. Many more are left permanently disfigured or disabled.

Burns may be caused by chemicals, friction, electricity, radiation or heat. Common causes of burn injuries include:

• Household accidents

• Building fires

• Defective candles, heaters, and fireplaces

• Lighters and matches

• Motor vehicle accidents

• Flammable liquid explosions

• Scalding water

• Electrical accidents

• On-the-job accidents

• Gasoline spills

Burns are particularly common in young children and in the elderly.

Burns and fires are the leading cause of accidental death in the home for children under 14. The biggest risk is from scalding. Scalding is the leading cause of accidental death in the home for children under age four and is responsible for 40% of burn injuries in children under 14. Burns and fires are the third leading cause of accidental death for adults.

Children under two are most frequently admitted for emergency burn care in the hospital. These children are most often burned in household accidents, particularly in the kitchen and the bathroom.

Individuals between the ages of five and 74 are most likely to sustain burns outdoors. However, kitchen accidents are the leading cause of indoor burns for this age group.

Burn injury risk increases after age 60. Those over age 75 are often injured in kitchen and outdoor fire accidents. They are also the most likely to sustain serious burns and the most likely to die in house fires.

Burns are a common on-the-job injury. According to the Department of Labor, 41,000 heat burns each year result in an average of four lost work days per burn. About 157,000 chemical burns result in an average of two lost work days per burn.

Burns are costly injuries. A burn covering 30% of the body may cost as much as $200,000 in initial hospital and doctors costs. However, this is only a fraction of the total cost of treatment which includes reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation.

At least half of all burn injuries are from accidents that could have been prevented. The Kansas City personal injury attorneys at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys represent victims of burn injuries caused by negligence or wrongful acts in Missouri and Kansas. If you have been injured and need legal help, contact our office at 1-888-348-2616.

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Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys
1102 Grand Blvd., Ste 1901
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: 816-471-5111
Toll Free: 888-348-2616
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Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys*
11900 College Boulevard, Suite 300
Overland Park, KS 66210
*By Appointment Only: Heather A. Lottmann & Victor B. Finkelstein

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Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys
1102 Grand Blvd., Ste 1901
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: 816-471-5111
Toll Free: 888-348-2616
Get Directions

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