A Reading burn injury lawyer from Munley Law will represent you or your loved ones after you have suffered life-altering burns due to accidents, unsafe conditions, or negligence.
Severe burns can lead to extensive medical care, long-term disability, emotional trauma, and financial hardship. You deserve dedicated legal advocacy to protect your rights and secure maximum compensation.
At Munley Law, our personal injury lawyers in Reading understand the complexities of these devastating injuries. With nearly seven decades of courtroom success and a deep commitment to client care, we stand ready to pursue justice for burn victims and their families. Contact us today for a no-obligation, free consultation.
How Common are Burn Injuries in Pennsylvania?
Burn injuries are a serious public health concern in the U.S. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people require medical treatment for burns, and many more experience long-term consequences from their injuries.
According to national data, over 200,000 burn-related injuries are treated every year in emergency departments, and the majority occur at home or in daily environments like workplaces or residences.
In Pennsylvania, burn injuries also occur across various settings, including healthcare facilities, where over 230 burn events were reported in a review of patient safety reports.
State data indicate that hospitalizations for fire and burn injuries are tracked through health statistics, underscoring the ongoing need for awareness and prevention at all ages.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer at Munley Law
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Common Causes of Burn Injuries
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a burn is “an injury to the skin or other organic tissue primarily caused by heat or due to radiation, radioactivity, electricity, friction, or contact with chemicals.”
When we think of burns, we often think of thermal burns, or heat burns, which can kill some or all of the cells in the tissues exposed to hot liquids, hot solids, or flames.
Burns can happen anywhere for several reasons, with most burns occurring at home or in the workplace. However, certain factors can increase a person’s risk of burn injury. This includes:
- Children and the elderly may not be able to escape flames as quickly or have a fast enough reaction time to dangers
- Alcohol and drug consumption
- Occupations that involve flames or chemicals
Burns can occur at any time, including in a car accident, chemical burns from using cleaning products, or electrical burns in a home. Below are more causes of severe burn injuries.
Workplace Accident Burns
Workplace accidents are one of the leading causes of burn injuries. Be it a construction accident where you are using heavy equipment, working with electrical wiring or chemicals, or you work in the industrial field with machinery. You may come into contact with hot objects or radiation burns. Workplace accident victims in Reading have a right to pursue compensation for their injuries.
Your employer’s insurance company will require you to file for workers’ compensation to get compensation for your injuries and lost wages.
But if your employer denies your claim, our Reading workers’ comp attorneys will guide you through the appeals process to ensure you get the financial support you need. If a third party is liable for your injuries, we can also walk you through the personal injury claim process to secure maximum compensation.
Severe Burns From Defective Products
Under product liability law, product designers, manufacturers, and retailers must warn consumers of potential risks of using their products. However, when a product has design flaws, issues in manufacturing, or inadequate warnings, and someone gets hurt, you may have a legal claim.
Everyday products that have an elevated risk of burn injury include:
- E-cigarettes
- Vapes
- Electric blankets
- Batteries
- Cars
- Grills
- Space heaters
- Deep fryers
- Fireworks
If a product is a burn risk not noted on the packaging or a defective product causes burns, you have the right to compensation for your injuries and losses.
House Fires From Faulty Electrical Wiring
Faulty wiring is the leading cause of house fires. These fires are most likely to occur in the colder months, when people may rely on additional heat sources plugged into the circuits to heat their homes.
The liable parties will ultimately be determined depending on what caused the house fire. In the case of faulty electrical wiring, the construction firm could be liable. Still, if your home is old and has bad wiring, so long as that was disclosed in your buying contract, you’ll likely contact your homeowner’s insurance to see what can be done about the physical damage.
However, if you were burned in a fire elsewhere, you must meet with experienced personal injury lawyers who can establish fault and prove liability for your burn injury claim.
“For more than three generations, our family has been fighting for justice. It’s more than a career choice—it’s written into our DNA.”
Robert W. Munley, III
Types and Degrees of Burn Injuries
According to the Cleveland Clinic, half a million Americans seek medical care for accidental burns each year. Medical providers categorize burns by severity, with third-degree burns being the most severe and life-threatening if left untreated.
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns are most commonly thought of as sunburns. These burns impact the top layer of skin, the epidermis. When a first-degree burn occurs, the skin is red and painful but does not blister or have long-term effects.
These minor burns usually resolve on their own; however, if they change appearance, you should seek medical attention for the following:
- Large first-degree burns
- Sunburns in infants or the elderly
- Burns to the eyes, nose, or mouth
- Signs of infection, like pus, swelling, or oozing
A flash burn, a sudden burst of heat, can also cause first-degree burns. If the flash burn occurs to the eyes, seek medical treatment immediately.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns impact the top and lower layers of skin or the dermis. These burns are caused by heat, chemicals, or light sources such as:
- Scalding water or steam
- Hot objects
- Sunburn
- Chemical exposure
- Contact with electricity
- Open flames
Second-degree burns, also known as partial-thickness burns, can cause pain, redness, swelling and blistering, and skin discoloration that appears red, white, or splotchy.
In most cases, second-degree burns can be handled at home. However, there are certain things you should do to aid in recovery.
- Take pain medication as needed
- Wash the burn with mild soap and water unless medically directed to do otherwise
- Dress the burn in loose gauze, but do not wrap too tightly to avoid added pressure
- Remove clothing or jewelry on or near the burn in case swelling occurs
- Do not put ice on the burn, as it can damage the skin cells
If signs of infection appear, seek medical care immediately.
Third-Degree Burns
A third-degree burn is the most severe type of burn. These burns destroy the first three layers of your skin and destroy fatty tissues. In serious cases, it can also destroy sweat glands, hair follicles, and nerve endings. Since third-degree burns destroy nerve endings in the affected tissue, the area becomes numb and insensate immediately after injury; however, there is typically severe pain in the surrounding areas where nerve endings remain intact. This absence of pain in the most severely damaged area can actually be a dangerous sign, indicating very serious tissue destruction. The skin will appear black, dry, and leathery.
You may also have second-degree burns that look shiny, moist, blistered, and discolored.
Common locations for a third-degree burn include the hands, face, feet, arms, and legs. The most common causes of a third-degree burn include:
- Fire flames
- Contact with a hot object
- Ultraviolet radiation
- Boiling water or steam
- Chemicals
- Electrocution
- Dry ice, liquid nitrogen, etc.
After sustaining a third-degree burn, you must seek emergency medical treatment, even though you may not be in extreme pain. . Immediate treatment of third-degree burns involves careful cleaning of the affected area, specialized wound dressings, and often surgical intervention, including skin grafts, along with aggressive infection prevention measures.
Other Types of Burns
In rare cases, a burn may progress beyond third-degree burns. Other categories of burns include fourth-degree burns.
Fourth-degree burns affect all layers of the skin, as well as the muscles, tendons, and bones. They can be caused by fire, chemicals, and electricity, with the length of exposure being the leading cause of severity. Fourth-degree burns may be numb and appear charred.
These burns are life-threatening and require immediate medical care. Skin grafts will likely be needed, along with multiple surgeries and therapy, to regain movement once the skin has healed.
Why Burn Injury Claims Require Expert Witnesses and Legal Representation
An expert witness will be key to your case if you want to hold the liable parties accountable. With an experienced burn injury attorney, you will have access to accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and law enforcement who can clarify your catastrophic accident. Be it electrical accidents that require construction experts, industrial accidents that require industry professionals, or medical experts who can understand the long-term impacts of your devastating injuries, the resources you need for a successful claim are available with the help of a burn accident attorney.
At Munley Law, we leverage trusted medical and accident reconstruction experts to build strong cases. Our team helps clients establish liability, prove negligence, and pursue full compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, future care, and more.
What Compensation Can You Recover for a Burn Injury?
If you or a loved one suffered severe injuries from a burn, Munley Law will guide you through the legal process to hold the responsible party accountable.
Our burn injury attorneys have over 250 years of combined experience helping victims secure economic and non-economic damages in their burn injury lawsuits. This includes compensation for:
- Medical expenses for past and future care
- Property damage
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Disfigurement and scarring
If you suffered in a workplace accident in Reading, we can help you get compensation through workers’ compensation. If the injury was caused by a defective product, we’ll get to the bottom of it.
In the case of wrongful death, we help the family of the deceased fight for their legal rights and secure compensation for the mental anguish they must endure.
Why Choose Munley Law for Your Reading Burn Injury Case?
Munley Law has a long track record of success in high-stakes personal injury litigation, including complex burn injury and catastrophic injury claims. Our firm is known for:
- Almost seven decades of experience handling personal injury claims
- Proven courtroom advocacy against insurance companies and negligent parties
- Access to leading medical and industry experts
- Significant verdicts and settlements for clients suffering life-altering injuries.
Our dedication to clients and the Reading and greater Pennsylvania community has earned us recognition among peers and in legal circles for legal excellence and compassionate representation. Best Lawyers has named three of our partners Best Lawyers of the Year, and the 2026 Best Law Firms guide awarded our firm Tier 1 rankings in five practice areas.
Additionally,all five of our partners hold an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which reflects the highest level of respect from peers for legal ability and professionalism. All our partners are also named among Lawdragon’s list of the 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, and are members of the American Association for Justice and the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Talk To a Personal Injury Attorney Now
Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injury Claims in Reading, PA
What Qualifies as a Compensable Burn Injury Claim in Pennsylvania?
Burn claims typically require proof that someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct caused your injury.
What is the Statute of Limitations to File a Burn Injury Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania generally has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including burn injuries. However, if the burn victim is a minor or the incident occurred on municipal property, different time frames or regulations may apply.
Can I Pursue Compensation If I Was Injured by a Defective Product?
Yes. Product liability law allows you to seek damages from manufacturers, designers, or sellers of defective products that caused your burns.
Will Insurance Cover My Burn-Related Medical Care?
Often, workers’ compensation covers workplace burns, and personal insurance or liability claims may cover other incidents. An attorney can help maximize your recovery.
Do All Burn Cases Go to Trial?
Many burn cases settle out of court, but Munley Law prepares every case as if it will go to trial to secure the best possible outcome.
What If I Lost a Loved One Due to Burn Injuries?
Survivors may pursue a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for funeral costs, loss of support, and emotional damages.
Contact a Reading Burn Injury Lawyer at Munley Law
Severe burn injuries can cause lasting physical, emotional, and financial hardship, especially when they result from someone else’s negligence.
Call the Reading burn injury lawyers of Munley Law to sue a property owner or employer, or file a product liability claim. Call or email us today to schedule a free, no-obligation initial consultation.
Robert W. Munley, III
Robert W. Munley, III is a seasoned personal injury attorney and award-winning courtroom advocate. While he regularly handles a range of personal injury cases, his focus is on truck accidents and workers’ compensation cases. Bob has served thousands of accident victims and workers, winning them millions with his bold advocacy.
