A qualified burn injury lawyer in Rapid City, South Dakota, can help you get the compensation you need for the recovery you deserve. Countless Americans are hospitalized for burns every year, and the health effects of a burn can impact a life for years. In extreme cases, burns can cause permanent damage and change the way victims live their lives. Not all burns are the same, and some may require intensive medical attention. Medical care is expensive, and the right compensation can make recovery somewhat more manageable. If you’re considering pursuing compensation for your burn injury, it helps to know more about the different types of burns and how they can impact a life.  Burns are broken up into a few categories, depending on severity. They are typically classified as first degree, second degree, or third degree burns, ranging from slightly painful or irritating to completely life-altering and life-threatening.

• First degree burns: Although they may seem the least dangerous of all burns, some first degree burns may require medical attention. These burns only affect the outermost layer of skin, and although they may seem superficial, they can still prove to be quite painful. First degree burns are the most common: technically sunburns can even count as first degree burns. Although they may seem like a minor inconvenience, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Don’t hesitate to seek medical treatment for a burn, no matter how innocent it may seem.

• Second degree burns: While a first degree burn only affects the outermost layer of skin, a second degree burn reaches far deeper. These burns are incredibly painful and require medical attention. Unlike a first degree burn, which may appear as redness at the burn site, a second degree burn has a blister-like appearance. Second degree burns can also cause permanent damage to nerves and tissue.

• Third degree burns: Third degree burns are incredibly severe and life-threatening. First degree burns only affect the epidermis – the outer layer of the skin. Second degree burns reach down to the dermis, which sits beneath the epidermis. Third degree burns, however, completely destroy both the epidermis and the dermis, as well as the tissue and bone underneath. Third degree burns have a charred, black (or white) appearance, and may not even be felt because of destroyed nerve endings. These burns require immediate medical attention, and are often fatal.

If you suffered burn injuries, a burn injury lawyer in Rapid City, SD, can ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Burns require intensive medical care, and no matter how minor they seem, there is always the risk of complication and infection. If a burn is severe enough to require a hospital stay, reconstructive surgery, or rehabilitation, a personal injury lawyer in Rapid City, SD can help. At the Law Offices of Loos, Sabers & Smith LLP, we are dedicated to every client that contacts us about their burn injuries. If you’re suffering from severe burns and are struggling to make ends meet over the course of your recovery, we can negotiate with hesitant insurance companies to make sure you get the money you need to cover overwhelming medical expenses. We can also investigate your case to determine if there are any other parties that can be held responsible for your injuries. Burns are hard enough to deal with by yourself – don’t get burnt again by oppressive medical bills and apathetic insurance companies. Reach out to a burn injury lawyer in Rapid City, SD, and contact the Law Offices of Loos, Sabers & Smith LLP today.