New Mexico Burn Injury Attorneys

Burn injuries are often the result of negligence. When another individual or organization’s negligence causes burn injuries, you can claim a personal injury against the negligent party and seek damages. Workers in specific industries also take on an increased risk of burn injuries. If you sustain burn injuries at work, you can likely file a workers' compensation claim.

In residential settings, common causes include kitchen fires, electrical fires, and improper use of household products. Many homes are filled with potential fire hazards, so residents must practice fire safety and maintain functional smoke detectors. In addition to fire-related injuries, chemical burns can occur from cleaning agents, leading to severe skin and eye injuries. Awareness and safe handling of these substances are essential.

Our New Mexico burn injury lawyers are prepared to fight for you in cases involving: 

• Motor vehicle accidents. Vehicular accidents involving cars, trucks, or motorcycles can all lead to someone sustaining burn injuries during a collision or its aftermath. Victims may sustain burns through direct contact with flames resulting from a vehicle catching fire after an impact. Such fires can be triggered by a rupture in the fuel system or electrical malfunctions, leading to an immediate and intense heat source. Additionally, vehicular accidents can cause burns through hot surfaces or liquids. For instance, victims can come into contact with scalding engine fluids, steaming radiators, or heated metal from the car's structure. These substances and surfaces can reach incredibly high temperatures during operation and, upon impact, may breach the passenger compartment or become exposed to the skin. Chemical burns are another risk associated with motor vehicle accidents. Vehicles contain various chemicals like battery acid, coolants, and airbag propellants that can be harmful upon contact. In the chaos of a crash, these substances can be released and cause skin injuries that require specialized medical treatment.
• Oil field accidents. Oil field workers are at an exceptionally high risk of burn injuries due to the presence of flammable substances and the heavy industrial equipment used in extraction operations. One of the primary causes of burn injuries in oil fields is explosions and fires. These catastrophic events can occur from a spark or high heat igniting flammable vapors during drilling, transporting, or processing oil and gas. The high intensity of such a fire can cause devastating thermal burns to nearby workers. Another hazard that can lead to burns is the mishandling of or malfunction in the operation of machinery and equipment. For example, contact with hot surfaces, such as drilling equipment and engines, can result in severe second or third-degree burns. Additionally, the highly pressurized systems used in oil extraction have the potential to rupture, releasing hot oil or steam, which can cause scalding burns. Chemical burns are also a concern in oil fields, where workers are routinely exposed to hazardous chemicals that can injure the skin upon contact. These substances are often corrosive and can cause burns quickly, necessitating immediate decontamination and medical treatment to mitigate skin damage.
• Other workplace accidents. Numerous other types of workplaces can pose heightened risks for burn injuries. Restaurants and commercial kitchens are rife with potential hazards, including hot stoves, ovens, deep fryers, and boiling liquids that can cause severe thermal burns. Chefs, cooks, and kitchen staff work in close quarters with these risks throughout their shifts, and equipment malfunctions, third-party negligence, or even a momentary lapse in attention can result in harmful accidents. Industrial and manufacturing settings are other high-risk zones for burns. Employees in these sectors often handle molten materials, operate heavy machinery, and work with electrical and chemical processes that, if improperly managed or equipment malfunctions, can lead to thermal, chemical, or electrical burns. For example, workers may be exposed to extremely high temperatures that can easily cause severe burns upon contact in metalworking or plastic manufacturing. Construction sites also present multiple burn risks stemming from tasks like welding, tar and hot asphalt use, and the potential for electrical accidents.
• Product defects. Product defects are a significant cause of burn injuries in everyday settings. Defective products can cause burns due to faulty electrical wiring, inadequate materials, poor manufacturing standards, or failures in design that lead to overheating explosions or fires. Items such as hairdryers, toasters, or battery chargers can malfunction if their wiring is substandard, improperly insulated, or the electrical components are of poor quality, leading to overheating that can burn users or spark fires. Overheating is especially dangerous in the case of devices with lithium-ion batteries, like smartphones and laptops, where thermal runaway can cause the battery to explode and result in severe burns. Timely product recalls, and consumer awareness about defective products are vital in preventing these incidents from occurring.