Accidents in New Mexico can result in many different types of personal injuries, including serious burn injuries. If you do sustain a burn injury in an accident, it is important to seek advice from a Santa Fe personal injury attorney who can help you to determine your eligibility for filing a personal injury claim. In the meantime, the following are five things you should know about burn injuries and personal injury cases in New Mexico.
1. Hundreds of Thousands of Burn Injuries Require Treatment Each Year
Every year, the American Burn Association (ABA) estimates that more than 486,000 people will sustain burn injuries that require medical treatment, and about 40,000 of those cases will involve burns that are so severe they require hospitalization. In about 30,000 of those cases, the burns will require specialized treatment at a burn center.
2. Many Different Types of Burn Injuries Can Happen
Not all burns are the same, and they do not have the same causes. In general, burn injuries can be classified as follows:
- Thermal burns, which are most commonly associated with burn injuries and occur when the skin comes into contact with something very hot;
- Radiation burns, which result from prolonged exposure to radiation or ultraviolet rays;
- Chemical burns, which result from contact with dangerous chemicals;
- Electrical burns, which happen when a person comes into contact with alternating current or direct current; and
- Friction burns, which result from friction heat.
3. Burns Injuries Can Have Various Causes
Burn injuries can result from many different types of accidents, such as:
- Car crashes;
- House fires;
- Stove and oven accidents;
- Grill issues;
- Electrical fires; and
- Exposure to dangerous chemicals.
4. Liability for Burn Injuries Can Vary
Liability for a burn injury will depend upon how and where the burn injury occurred, as well as the source of the burn. In many cases, burn injuries result from defective products, and the designer or manufacturer or retailer of a consumer product may be liable for injuries. Yet burn injuries can also occur when a landlord, for example, fails to account for an electrical problem in a rental home that leads to a house fire. Or, for instance, another motorist may be responsible for burn injuries when a car crash results in serious burns.
5. You Will Most Likely Have Three Years to File a Claim
If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit, it is critical to know that most burn injury cases must be filed within three years from the date of the injury under New Mexico law. If you do not file your burn injury lawsuit within three years, your claim may become time-barred under New Mexico law.
Contact Our New Mexico Personal Injury Attorneys
Do you have questions about filing a personal injury lawsuit, or do you want to learn more about your options for filing a burn injury claim? One of our experienced Santa Fe personal injury lawyers can evaluate your case for you today and can help you to determine your options for moving forward with a lawsuit. Contact Slate Stern Law today for more information.