When young students are required to use certain devices or objects in science classes for experiments, those students could be at risk of suffering a serious burn injury. Anytime science classroom experiments require students to use flammable materials, a serious fire could start and students could suffer disfiguring and severe burn injuries. A recent report from CBS 8 San Diego discusses a burn injury case in which a sixth-grader in the Encinitas Union School District sustained life-threatening burn injuries. That student’s family recently filed a lawsuit against the school, and that claim highlights the serious dangers of particular classroom activities.

Science Classroom Experiment Resulted in Face and Neck Burn Injuries

According to the CBS 8 San Diego report, the recent claim against Encinitas Union School District centers around a 13-year-old student, Priest Rivera, who “suffered burns to his face, neck, and chest after a school experiment allegedly went wrong.” The family alleges that the Encinitas Union School District is responsible for the injuries according to legal theories of negligence, and negligent supervision and training. As a result of the injuries, the student required four surgeries and spent one week in the burn unit at UCSD. The student’s complaint alleges that he ultimately suffered “severe and permanent injuries.” How did the burn injuries happen?

The 13-year-old student was in a Capri Elementary sixth-grade classroom shortly before school let out for the summer last June. The student and his other classmates were participating in a science experiment that is commonly known as “black snake” or “carbon snake.” The experiment involves igniting a mixture of baking soda and sugar, which results in the melted sugar pushing out and “forming a snake-like ash.” According to the student, the experiment was not working as it was intended, and he indicated that “the science teacher kept pouring more rubbing alcohol to make the flame build up more.” The student’s head and neck caught on fire, and students around him reportedly said, “he’s on fire.”

Burn Injuries can Occur in Any Science Classroom When Precautions are Not Taken

While this Encinitas case highlights a serious accident that happened right in Encinitas, it is certainly not the first of its kind. Shortly after Priest Rivera suffered burn injuries in Encinitas last June, a former high school student in New York won a $60 million verdict for a burn injury claim arising out of a chemistry classroom experiment. According to an article in The New York Times, in July 2019, a Manhattan jury found the New York City Department of Education and the student’s teacher “liable for an accident that left much of his body scarred from third-degree burns.

In a Beacon High School chemistry classroom, “a large fireball exploded when an experienced science teacher, Anna Poole, conducted an experiment intended to show how salts change color when exposed to methanol.” The experiment is commonly known as “the Rainbow,” and it is known to have caused at least two other accidents in science classrooms across the U.S. in recent years. The accident caused a large fire, and the student who won the lawsuit was “caught in the flames.” The third-degree burns were so severe that the student “is no longer able to sweat through some parts of his body.” He required “Extensive skin graft surgeries” and spent a total of five months in the hospital.

Contact a Burn Injury Lawyer in Encinitas

Burn injuries can have a variety of causes. If you suffered burn injuries caused by another party’s negligence, you should speak with a burn injury lawyer about your case. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more about filing a claim.

See Related Blog Posts: Recalled Instant Pots Could Cause Burn Injuries in Rancho Bernardo Preventing Injuries from Defective Electronics in San Diego

Instant Pot multicookers have become extremely popular over the last year, but do they pose a risk of burn injury? Articles have emphasized that the pressure cookers can make almost anything, from stews to wines. However, according to a recent report from WebMD, certain Instant Pot models may have a safety defect that could result in the unit overheating and, ultimately, starting a fire. If you own an Instant Pot and regularly use it to make dinner in Rancho Bernardo, do you need to stop using the pressure cooker altogether? We will discuss the recall associated with defective pressure cookers and how the defect could cause burn injuries.

Getting the Facts About the Recalled Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicooker

According to the report, the problem exists in some models of the Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicooker. Many were sold at Walmart and by other popular retail outlets, and they are now being recalled. Double Insight, the company that currently imports these Instant Pot models from China, has received to date more than 100 separate reports of the Instant Pot “overheating and melting on the bottom.” In at least five cases, consumers have sustained property damage. An overheating kitchen device can pose a serious risk of burn injuries and fire damage to your home.

It is important to learn whether you have an Instant Pot model that is subject to the recall. How can you know for certain? There is a code located in the lower right corner of a label on the bottom of the device. Look in the area where the label says “Date,” and if it has any of the following codes, you should immediately stop using it and return it to receive a free replacement device:

• 1728;
• 1730;
• 1731;
• 1734; and/or
• 1736.

As we mentioned, if one of these codes appears on the bottom of your Instant Pot, you should unplug it and take it into the store for a free replacement.

Is This Recall a Reason to Worry About Suffering Injuries as a Result of Using Your Instant Pot?

Given the popularity of these kitchen devices, a recent article in The New York Times urged consumers not to jump to conclusions about the risks associated with Instant Pot use. As that article says, “If headlines about an ‘Instant Pot recall’ or an ‘Instant Pot meltdown’ have been making you anxious, there’s reason for relief.” The article goes on to contend that “your beloved pressure cooker is probably fine.” But is that really true?

We do not know exactly how many devices are subject to the recall. What we do know, however, is that more than 100 reports have already been received about the safety defect, and even more people own Instant Pots. Over the 2017 Black Friday and holiday sales season, the Instant Pot “was among the top five items sold by Amazon and Target. At Kohls, the Instant Pot was in the top three sellers, and the company Instant Pot reports that its “sales have more than doubled every year since 2011.” In other words, a lot of Instant Pots have been sold, and they could pose burn dangers.

Contact a Rancho Bernardo Burn Injury Lawyer

If you sustained burn injuries caused by a defective product or by another party’s negligence, a Rancho Bernardo burn injury attorney can help. Contact the Walton Law Firm today to discuss your case with a dedicated attorney.

See Related Blog Posts: Preventing Injuries from Defective Electronics in San Diego Preventing Holiday Home Fires in Riverside County

(image courtesy of Paolo Bendandi)

Is high school football in San Marcos really as dangerous as scientists and physicians have been suggesting? Does playing high school football increase young athletes’ risk for sports-related concussions and more serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), in addition to placing them in danger of developing the degenerative brain condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)? Most physicians would say, in general, yes. However, according to a new study published in JAMA Neurology, not all high school football players appear to have sustained long-term damage from playing the sport in their youth. High school football players in the 1950s did not, on the whole, show signs of cognitive impairment.

This study appears to call into question some of the recent research on TBIs and high school football. What are the key takeaways from this study, and should this research change the way we manage the risk of brain injuries in contact sports?

Study Explores Link Between Youth Sports-Related Concussions and Long-Term Cognitive Health

One of the primary reasons for the study, according to its authors, is that we simply do not have enough information about how sports-related concussions sustained by youth athletes affects their long-term cognitive and mental health. The authors emphasize that most of the reports we have seen on CTE in retired professional football players come from posthumous examinations of those players’ donated brains, and such investigations may be “affected by referral bias.” It is particularly difficult, then, to make assessments concerning the long-term brain health of high school football players, especially when they do not continue playing the sport in college or at the professional level.

The researchers in this study emphasize that “there has been limited work examining the association of playing high school football with cognitive impairment and depression later in life.” Some studies have taken place, but there have been no randomized clinical trials, and research in general has had some conflicting outcomes.

In order to provide a more complete assessment of the TBI risks of high school football, the researchers proposed a “matched observational study.” In the study, they took a random sampling of thousands of Wisconsin high school graduates from 1957, and then looked specifically at graduates who had played football. They controlled for issues such as “adolescent IQ, family background, and educational level.” The ultimate goal was to “estimate the association of playing high school football with cognitive impairment and depression at 65 years of age.”

No Statistically Significant Link Between High School Football and Cognitive Impairment

The results of the study are surprising given recent work on football and head trauma. In assessing the cases of 3,904 individual men who played high school football, the researchers determined that “there was no statistically significant harmful association of playing football with a reduced composite cognition score.” The study also reported that, after adjusting for control factors, “playing football did not have a significant adverse association with . . . the likelihood of heavy alcohol use at 65 years of age” or with other outcomes such as depression, anger, anxiety, or hostility.

What can we take away from the study? Generally speaking, more research needs to be done on brain injury risks and high school football. In the meantime, if your child suffered a concussion or a serious TBI while playing high school sports, a San Marcos brain injury lawyer can discuss your options with you. Contact the Walton Law Firm today to learn more about filing a brain injury claim.

See Related Blog Posts: Can a New Protein Help Brain Injury Victims in Oceanside? Proposed Brain Injury Legislation Could Help San Marcos Residents

(Photo by João Victor Xavier)

For many San Diego County residents, it is now old news that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was recalled in massive numbers due to a safety defect and the related risk of a lithium-ion battery causing fires and serious burn injuries. For instance, if you traveled via airplane recently, you likely heard warnings about the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 aboard the aircraft and the requirement that any of these devices on any passengers be turned off and stowed to avoid causing personal injuries to anyone on board.

A recent article in Forbes Magazine sought to assure consumers that its other products, such as the Galaxy S7, is safe for use. Indeed, in an official statement issued earlier this month, the company said, “Samsung stands behind the quality and safety of the Galaxy S7 family,” and it emphasized that “there have been no confirmed cases of internal battery failures with these devices among the more than 10 million devices being used by consumers in the United States.” Yet the product defects associated with the recalled smartphones have safety advocates at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wondering whether recall practices need to be changed in order to keep consumers safe, according to a recent article from NPR.

Defective Lithium-Ion Batteries Present a Problem That Goes Beyond Smartphones

If you want to worry about consumer safety and the defective lithium-ion batteries in smartphones that have caused bodily harm and property damage, should your concerns stop at smartphones? According to the NPR article, the problem may be a larger one that concerns electronics more generally and the assumptions we make about product safety when we make a purchase.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones may be the most recent product to contain a defective lithium-ion battery, but these items certainly were not the first to exhibit such a safety defect. Over the last few years, consumers have grappled with electronic safety defects—in particular lithium-ion battery issues—linked to “laptops, baby monitors, flashlights, and of course, those electric ‘hoverboard’ scooters,” all of which are known to have “overheated or caught fire.” To be sure, “lithium-ion batteries are a known troublemaker—and a subject of numerous standards and international regulations.” Yet, as much as we recognize that these products can cause serious injuries and simply may not be safe for use in most capacities, we continue to bear witness to events in which lithium-ion batteries start fires and cause burn injuries.

Prevention, Instead of Resolution, is Key to Avoiding Electronics Injuries

Elliot Kaye, the current chairman of the CPSC, suggests that we may need to change the way we approach defective electronics. Rather than seeking ways to resolve safety defects once they occur, the CPSC should be looking for ways to prevent harms. As such, Kaye “introduced a new initiative to help the agency get a broader understanding of the battery industry” and methods for injury prevention.

Kaye has expressed concern, however, about the future of this initiative under a new presidential administration. As the article explains, “under President Donald Trump in 2017, Kaye is expected to step down as chairman to become a commissioner.”

In the meantime, if you or someone you love suffered injuries as a result of a safety defect, a San Diego product liability lawyer can help. Contact the Walton Law Firm to discuss your case.

See Related Blog Posts: Injuries Caused By Exploding E-Cigarettes Recent Product Recalls Linked to Child Injuries

(image courtesy of elisfkc from Orlando, FL, United States)

This holiday season in Riverside County and throughout Southern California, it is important for families to be aware of steps they can take to prevent house fires and burn injuries. From outdoor lights to cooking to Christmas trees, there are many activities that Southern California families enjoy that actually can pose serious risks of fires and burn injuries. According to a fact sheet from the American Red Cross, almost 47,000 house fires occur during the winter holiday season each year, and they result in approximately 2,200 injuries and 500 fatalities annually. In addition to severe and life-threatening burn injuries, holiday home fires also cause approximately $554 million in property damage.

What do you need to know in order to keep your home and your family free from a holiday home fire and serious burn injuries?

Being Careful with Christmas Trees

One of the most important ways of avoiding a home fire is by paying attention to safety tips concerning Christmas trees. As the American Red Cross fact sheet clarifies, it is extremely important to keep Christmas trees—both artificial and live—at least three feet away from sources of heat, including space heaters, radiators, heating vents, fireplaces, and candles. Although most Southern California winters do not require substantial heating of homes, many families in San Diego enjoy fires in the fireplace in the evening, and lighting candles for the pleasant aroma.

In addition to keeping Christmas trees away from heat sources, there are numerous other ways to avoid fires and burn injuries linked to trees. For instance, if you purchase an artificial tree, be sure that you buy one that is fire resistant or flame retardant. If you decide to buy a live tree, it is important to ensure that the tree is relatively fresh and healthy when you take it home. You should run your hand along the branches, and if needles fall off, the tree might be too dry to hold lights. Similarly, if the tree loses a lot of needles when you shake it or set it down, it is likely too dried out to be safe for your house. When you do buy a fresh, green tree, it is thus necessary to keep it as moist as possible. You should water it daily to prevent unnecessary drying. When Christmas trees get too dry, the warm lights can start a fire.

Taking Safety Steps When You are Cooking for the Holidays

Whether you are cooking or baking this holiday season, it is important to be aware of burn injuries associated with the kitchen. As a fact sheet from the National Safety Council (NSC) explains, turkey fryers are among the most dangerous cooking tools during the holiday season. According to that fact sheet, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has identified nearly 170 turkey-fryer fires since 2002, which have resulting in burn injuries and other serious harms. In total, 672 people have sustained injuries as a result of using turkey fryers. If you do decide to deep-fry a turkey at Thanksgiving or for another holiday dinner, it is important to set up the fryer at least 10 feet from your home and to ensure that the fryer is on flat ground where the oil can remain steady.

For other cooking and baking activities, a safety tip sheet from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) emphasizes that you should always remain in the kitchen when you have food cooking on the stovetop, and you should ensure that all handles face inward to prevent a child from reaching up and grabbing a scalding pan. You should also always keep a fire extinguisher nearby, regardless of the time of year, to extinguish a kitchen fire as quickly as possible.

If you or someone you love recently suffered a burn injury, you may be able to file a claim. An aggressive Riverside County burn injury lawyer can assist you. Contact the Walton Law Firm today.

See Related Blog Posts: Injuries Caused By Exploding E-Cigarettes Severe Burn Injury in Lakeside Fire

(image courtesy of MarcusObal)

According to a recent report from The San Diego Union-Tribune, a student at UC San Diego suffered critical burn injuries in a fire at an apartment complex traditionally housing transfer students to the university. When home fires start in an apartment complex, many apartments can be at risk of sustaining fire and smoke-related damage, while residents in other apartments, too, can be at risk of suffering serious burn injuries. How often do fires and burn injuries impact college students and other young adults? What can we do to prevent injuries related to house fires?

Details of the Fire Near UC San Diego

As the report explains, the fire in this instance was relatively small, but the student involved did suffer critical burn injuries. The fire began at around 1:25 p.m., and it began in a ninth-floor apartment at The Village at Torrey Pines. On the La Jolla campus, this is an apartment complex where transfer students typically reside. Currently, investigators suspect that the injured student set the fire herself. What do investigators know thus far? Some type of flammable liquid served as an accelerant and played a role in setting the fire.

The injured student was “rushed to the burn center at UC San Diego Health,” according to a spokesperson for San Diego Fire-Rescue. No other students were injured, and it did not appear that the fire had spread beyond the student’s apartment. Once San Diego Fire-Rescue appeared, however, the thirteen-floor building was evacuated to ensure the safety of all residents. Other living in the building at the time of the incident did not see any signs of a nearby fire or smell any smoke. In total, the fire caused around $1,000 in damage to the apartment complex, not including the contents of the student’s residence.

Getting the Facts About House Fires and Burn Injuries in California

How often do California residents suffer burn injuries that require medical treatment? According to a fact sheet from the American Burn Association, each year about 486,000 Americans visit emergency departments or other healthcare facilities to receive treatment for burn-related injuries. About 40,000 of those people have burns that are severe enough to require hospitalization, while about 30,000 require specialized treatment in burn centers. In terms of fatal injuries, the American Burn Association estimates that nearly 3,000 people suffer deadly injuries each year as a result of residential fires. More than 300 people sustain fatal injuries in vehicle crash fires. In total, 3,275 people died as a result of fire or smoke inhalation injuries in 2014 alone.

What can we do to prevent house fires? An article from U.S. News & World Report lists the following as important preventive measures when it comes to fires that begin at home:

• Stay near your stove or oven anytime you are cooking;
• Ensure that your space heaters have sufficient clear space around them (at least three feet);
• Do not smoke cigarettes indoors;
• Regularly check your electrical cords to ensure that they are not worn out, and replace any worn cords; and
• Switch to battery-operated candles instead of candles using an open flame.

If you or someone you love recently suffered burn injuries, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. An experienced San Diego burn injury lawyer can help. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more about the ways we can assist with your case.

See Related Blog Posts: Injuries Caused By Exploding E-Cigarettes Firefighter Suffers Burn Injuries in Roof Collapse

(image courtesy of Tony Webster)

Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems, have been “promoted as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes,” according to a fact sheet from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. However, as a recent article in Scientific American explains, e-cigarettes have been linked to serious burn injuries caused by the explosion of these devices. While we do not yet have enough information to know about the health risks associated with e-cigarettes, we do know that they can cause serious burns to the hands and mouth, and in some cases can cause fractures and paralysis.

What else do you need to know about e-cigarettes and serious injuries? Can injury victims seek compensation by filing a lawsuit?

Learning More About Electronic Cigarettes As the fact sheet from the national Institute on Drug Abuse explains, electronic cigarettes are made up of three different parts. Each has a cartridge, “which holds a liquid solution containing varying amounts of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals.” These devices also contain a heating tool, also known as a vaporizer, and a source of power that is usually a lithium-ion battery. To get the e-cigarette to work, the user puffs on the device, which activates the heater. The heating device turns the cartridge liquid into vapor, which the user then inhales.

Using an e-cigarette is supposed to “simulate the act of tobacco smoking” and to deliver nicotine to its user “but with less of the toxic chemicals produced by burning tobacco leaves.” Yet these devices still provide a user with nicotine, which is a “highly addictive drug,” according to the fact sheet. However, as we mentioned previously, the chemical exposures from e-cigarettes do not appear to be the most immediate cause for concern. Rather, these devices literally are blowing up in the faces of users.

Explosions Caused By Lithium-Ion Batteries The injuries that have resulted thus far from exploding electronic cigarettes are serious, the Scientic American article underscores. The “trail of injuries” reported from these devices is a long one, and it reflects severe harms to users. For instance, a recent e-cigarette explosion left a man “with a hole in his tongue and burns on his hand.” A teen recently suffered damage to the teeth and eyes after an electronic cigarette exploded in a store. And late last year, a user was left “potentially paralyzed” from an e-cigarette explosion, which caused fractures to the bones in the user’s face and to his vertebrae.

Many other e-cigarette users have been hospitalized as a result of burn injuries, many with fire-degree burns to the face and torso. Californians have not been spared. A Southern California man required treatment at the University of California San Diego Burn Center after his e-cigarette exploded.

What causes these explosions? In short, the lithium-ion batteries can explode. While lithium-ion batteries are used in many consumer products, the design and shape of the e-cigarette makes an explosion more likely in the event that the lithium-ion battery fails. A report from the U.S. Fire Administration explains that, “in a lithium-ion battery, the solution can become overheated, reaching its boiling point and then rapidly expand and catch fire, causing the battery to explode.”

In other devices that rely on lithium-ion batteries—such as laptops or cell phones—the hard plastic cases prevent the batteries from causing injury. In e-cigarettes, however, “the explosion can lead the cylindrical container of the device to explode, too, causing the device to be propelled across the room like a bullet or a small rocket.”

If you recently sustained injuries caused by an e-cigarette, you may be able to seek compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit. An experienced San Diego burn injury lawyer can assist you. Contact the Walton Law Firm to discuss your case today.

See Related Blog Posts: Firefighter Suffers Burn Injuries in Roof Collapse Hot Air Balloon Accident Leaves Four Injured

Typically, fictionalized film versions of real-life events often do not have a significant impact on the way youth athletes play football or make decisions about sports-related concussions. However, according to a recent report from NPR, the movie Concussion is seriously affecting decisions made by high school football players and their families. The film details the traumatic brain injury (TBI) research of Dr. Bennet Omalu, “the doctor who was the first to publish research on the degenerative brain disease he called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.”

High School Athletes Deciding Against Future Play For Californians who have not heard of CTE or its effects, it is a degenerative disease of the brain that appears to develop as a result of multiple hits to the head that cause concussions. Given that football players commonly experience multiple concussions over their careers, CTE has become known as a serious risk for professional athletes. Nw, it looks as though youth players are also reconsidering the risks inherent in contact sports.

Could growing debates about CTE, and the ways in which multiple concussions can lead to debilitating symptoms in adulthood, actually change the way in which high school football players approach the sport? It seems as though the ever-expanding news about the risks of CTE and sports-related concussions could indeed prevent high schoolers from continuing to take the field in college and afterward. For instance, one high school football player interviewed for the NPR report, John Castello, indicated that “he turned down multiple football scholarships” after seeing the movie Concussion.

The film alone, which stars Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, was not the only factor in Castello’s decision to stop playing football once he reaches college. Rather, the movie encouraged him to do his own research into CTE findings and the high rate at which this disease appears to affect football players. According to Castello, “I watched interviews with Dr. Omalu and that kind of really gave me some insight onto what could happen if I kept on playing football and some of the injuries that could occur.”

Assessing the Long-Term Consequences of High School Injuries Until he saw Concussion, Castello admitted that he had not considered the long-term consequences of a high school football injury. Castello sustained a brain injury during play last year, but he did not consider that he could experience serious consequences years later as a result of that head trauma. As he told NPR, “I kind of just shrugged it off, didn’t think it was much of anything.” Once he viewed Concussion, however, he realized that playing football and sustaining concussions on the field could have lifelong repercussions.

After thinking more about the potentially debilitating impact of concussions, Castello decided to turn down several college football scholarships. While the young athlete’s family does not have the ability to pay for his college education, he told NPR, “I’d rather be paying off student loans than having trouble getting down the stairs . . . in the morning.”

It is important for high school athletes to have sustained brain injuries to know that they may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. An experienced San Diego brain injury attorney can help. Contact the Walton Law Firm today for more information.

See Related Blog Posts: Mild Head Injuries Cause Long-Term Impairments Sports-Related Concussions, Science, and the NFL

Intensive Treatment for Severe Burns

According to the article, Dern had been “leading several firefighters across a roof to provide ventilation for the safety of attack crews when the roof collapsed” on a house in flames. The firefighter fell through the roof of the garage. His fellow firefighters rescued him within minutes, which “was critical to his survival,” according to Dr. William Dominic, director of the Leon S. Peters Burn Center in Fresno, where Dern currently is receiving care.

The burn center actually was created back in 1974 in response to another firefighter’s burn injuries. At that time, burn centers “were a new idea,” and “there were only a few nationwide.” Burn centers across the country, including in Fresno, have special equipment to “treat smoke inhalation and hard-to-heal wounds.”

At the time the article was written, Dern remained in “stable but very serious condition,” reported the attending physician. The firefighter sustained inhalation injuries in addition to the second- and third-degree burns across approximately 65 percent of his body. Dern was placed on a ventilator in order to help him breathe, and he will be facing numerous surgeries. According to Dr. Dominic, “this could be a very prolonged situation,” with many necessary surgeries to “remove dead tissue and do temporary skin grafts.”

Dern’s protective gear, in addition to the other firefighters’ quick response time, helped to save his life. To be sure, the firefighter’s clothing significantly reduced the burns to his body. Without it, his doctor explained, “it’s highly unlikely he would have been alive long enough for someone to help him out.” After the accident occurred, investigators from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) reported to the scene in Fresno “to investigate the work injury.” The Fresno Fire Chief also plans to hire independent investigators to look closely at the causes of the accident that caused Dern’s severe burn injuries.

Learning More About Burn Injuries

What do you need to know about burn injuries? According to the American Burn Association, the following facts and figures are important to keep in mind if we’re going to take preventive measures when it comes to serious burns:

• Each year, about 450,000 patients receive medical treatment for burn injuries.
• About 40,000 people require hospitalization for burn injuries, of which around 30,000 are treated at burn centers.
• On average, approximately 3,400 patients suffer fatal injuries from fires, burns, and/or smoke inhalation. More than 2,500 result from residential fires, while other causes include automobile crash fires, contact with electricity, and contact with hot objects or liquids.
• More men than women tend to suffer serious burn injuries. Of those reported, about 70 percent of the patients were men, while about 30 percent were women.
• In general, burn injuries have a high survival rate at more than 95 percent. However, surviving a serious burn injury can still result in lifelong disabilities and disfigurement.

If you or someone you love sustained serious burn injuries, you may be able to file a claim for financial compensation. Don’t hesitate to contact the Walton Law Firm to discuss your case with a dedicated San Diego burn injury attorney.

Photo Credit: Eric E Johnson via Compfight cc See Related Blog Posts: Hot Air Balloon Accident Leave Four Injured Severe Burn Injury in Lakeside Fire

Hot air balloon cases can involve a number of different types of claims, including those similar to motor vehicle accidents and those connected to burn injuries, as we mentioned, as well as other serious disfigurements. In some circumstances, you may even be dealing with a product defect or a wrongful death lawsuit. While riding in a hot air balloon over Riverside County wine country may sound like a relaxing feat, it ended in serious injuries for the victims earlier in November. If you or a loved one have sustained injuries in any type of motor vehicle accident, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact the California burn injury lawyers at the Walton Law Firm today to learn more about filing a claim.

Details of the Temecula Hot Air Balloon Explosion

After witnesses saw the balloon exploded, news originally circulated that the hot air balloon had crashed, according to an article in NBC Los Angeles. However, the article reported that “officials later clarified that the balloon landed safety before a small explosion occurred.” The balloon landed at 7:44 a.m. on a Saturday morning close to the Temecula vineyards at Vino Way and Calle Cabernet.

According to Mark Annas, the Riverside County Fire Department spokesman, visitors to the Southern California wine region often sign up for these hot air balloon trips, which have grown immensely popular due to the Temecula Valley scenery. There are 35 member wineries across a total of 35,000 acres, according to the Temecula Valley Wine Grower’s Association.

A total of five passengers had been in the vehicle when it exploded, and four suffered serious injuries. Of those victims, the Riverside County Fire Department reported that one was rushed to a burn center. Two other victims were transported to a trauma center, while the third was rushed to a local hospital.

Since the incident occurred, it has been under investigation by the Federal Aviation Agency and the National Transportation Safety Board. The cause of this injurious explosion remains unclear.

Filing a Lawsuit After a California Hot Air Balloon Accident

Were you or a loved one seriously injured in a hot air balloon accident? You may be dealing with severe burns and other life-altering injuries. Who can you sue for compensation? Only an experienced personal injury lawyer can assess the specific elements of your case, but it’s important to know that California law takes into account the potential hazards of hot air balloon travel.

Essentially, all commercial air operators have to provide certain insurance coverage in order to operate their vehicles in California. Under California Code Section 5513, anyone “owning, controlling, operating, renting, managing, furnishing, or otherwise providing transportation by hot air balloon for hire” must have particular liability insurance coverage in the case of an accident.

Have you been injured in an accident? It’s never too soon to contact an experienced California injury lawyer. At the Walton Law Firm, we have years of experience handling claims connected to motor vehicle accidents, burn injuries, and product liability. Hot air balloon accidents might be extremely unlikely, but the recent Temecula explosion reminds us that they do happen, and they cause serious injuries. Contact us today to discuss your claim.

Photo Credit: puffclinty via Compfight cc

See Related Blog Posts: Severe Burn Injury in Lakeside Fire $150 Million California Wrongful Death Verdict

Details of the Lakeside Fire

According to UT San Diego, the fire began off Highway 8 Business close to Los Coches Road along Los Coches Creek. It quickly spread to the Glenview Mobile Lodge, where the blaze burned about 1.5 acres before emergency response teams quelled the flames.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found “a badly burned woman lying alongside the road near the flaming vegetation,” according to the Lakeside Fire Protection District Chief Andy Parr. Local paramedics rushed the woman to the UC San Diego Medical Center. She was admitted to the burn unit where she was described as being in critical condition. As of right now, investigators aren’t sure if the woman lived in the mobile home park or not. Parr indicated that the woman may have been homeless and living along the dry creek.

Investigators haven’t yet determined the cause of the fire. They do know that the fire was “fueled by arundo donax, a tall cane in the creek bed that caused an explosive fire, with embers flying 100 feet and starting more fires.” Several families in the area commented on the blaze, describing the complete destruction of their homes.

Since there were no other large fires burning at the time, San Diego firefighters were able to devote significant resources to putting out the Lakeside fire. In fact, two air tankers and two helicopters “cropped water on the fire, and about 100 firefighters responded from 10 agencies, with 20 fire engines,” according to the San Diego Fire Department. While they prepare for “a bad fire season” every year, Parr indicated that current signs “suggest an especially dangerous season” for southern California.

Even if this recent fire resulted from an intentional act of arson, it’s a good idea to be prepared for wildfires in California.

How to Prevent Fires in Southern California

After commenting on the Lakeside fire, the San Diego Fire Department emphasized the importance of clearing away brush from homes and keeping these areas free from branches. Doing this can make it easier for firefighters to put out any fires that may start.

Last week was actually “Wildfire Awareness Week” in our state, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. While fires can start because of intentional acts of arson, people living in Southern California need to take extra precautions during the dangerous wildfire season. The state of California provides some useful tips for residents: · Create an Action Plan: have an evacuation plan in place, as well as a family communication plan for contacting loved ones outside the area in case of separation. · Be Prepared with an Emergency Supply Kit: it’s important to have fire extinguishers on hand, but an emergency supply kit for each member of your family can be extremely important in case of a fire. The kit should include a three-day supply of non-perishable food and 3 gallons of water per person, a map with two marked evacuation routes, prescription medication, changes of clothing, extra car keys and credit cards, a first aid kit, a flashlight, sanitation supplies, and important documents. · Harden Your Home: you can harden your home in case of a fire by using special roof materials, covering house vents, protecting eaves and soffits with ignition-resistant materials, installing dual-paned windows, and building your walls and decks with ignition-resistant building materials. These are just some of the important tips for hardening your home.

If you or a loved one have been burned in a fire, you may be eligible for compensation. Don’t hesitate to contact a burn injury attorney to learn about your options for filing a claim.

See Related Blog Posts: Fireworks Accident Ends in Death of Young Man Backyard Sterno-style Lantern Falls, Injures Three in Del Mar

The accident occurred just before 5:00 PM, and Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department responded to the 500 block of South Diamond Drive after calls reporting a vehicle on fire. Calabrese suffered burns over 90% of his body and was transported by air to the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, California. The two other victims suffered only minor burns. Calabrese passed away two days later on September 2nd. The cause of his death is currently under investigation. The cause of the accident is still unknown and is also currently under investigation.

The Effects of Burn Injuries From Explosion or Fire Accidents: When an accident occurs involving an explosion and/or a fire, it is extremely important that a proper investigation be conducted in order to determine the cause. It is advisable to contact a lawyer who specializes in these types of accidents who can ensure that an investigation is completed, recovering all relevant evidence in your case. Furthermore, a burn injury attorney will have the requisite knowledge of the intricacies of burn wounds, which helps them advocate for the compensation you deserve. Burn injuries of any degree are amongst the most painful injuries imaginable, yet the pain and suffering does not always end with the physical injury. These types of wounds often require a lengthy hospitalization and extensive medical attention throughout recovery. This leaves victims not only with physical pain, but also with financial stresses that should be compensated.

Getting Legal Help in Southern California: If you have suffered an injury due to a fireworks accident, or any other burn injury, do not hesitate to contact a burn accident attorney to find out about protecting your rights. The San Diego personal injury lawyers of the Walton Law Firm have the experience necessary to advocate for compensation for your burn injury. They can also help you if you have lost a loved one to such an injury. Contact the Walton Law Firm at (760) 571-5500 for a free confidential consultation about your case and to find out how we can help you. A confidential consultation can also be requested through our website.

See Related Blog Posts: Fireworks Show Mishap Caused Lights to Explode All at Once in San Diego Sky Backyard Sterno-style Lantern Falls, Injures Three in Del Mar

A backyard Fourth of July party on 24th Street in Del Mar turned tragic yesterday when three party-goers suffered serious burn injuries in an incident involving a what is being described as a sterno-style lamp or lantern. The details are currently sketchy, but firefighters are reporting that the lamp fell on a woman, dousing her with a flammable material, which was set aflame. Two friends and/or relatives standing nearby attempted to help, and also suffered burns.

One news outlet is reporting that one victim suffered burns from “head to toe,” but that has not been confirmed. It is currently being reported, however, that two of the victims are in critical condition at UCSD Medical Center.

While there has been no reporting of what kind of lamp or lantern caused this unfortunate accident, it’s difficult to imagine how a standard store bought outdoor Sterno or kerosene lamp could cause such serious harm. If the lamp was defective in anyway (even if used incorrectly) it could expose the lamp’s manufacturer to a product liability lawsuit.

If the lamp was tampered with in any way, or hung in a way that made it dangerous, the homeowner would be exposed to liability by creating a dangerous condition on the property that injures an invitee. One thing appears certain, an accident like this would not likely occur absent someone’s negligence.

Walton Law Firm has represented many burn injury victims in cases involving product liability and general negligence. In California, product manufacturers are subject to the law of strict liability, which does not require the injured party to prove the manufacturer of an injury-producing product is at fault for the injury. To prevail, the plaintiff only needs to establish that the product was defective, the defect existed at the time it entered the stream of commerce, and that the defective feature caused the injuries.

UPDATE (7/9/12): New reports about the burn incident in Del Mar on July 4th have explained how this tragic incident occurred. It was not a sterno lamp or tiki torch that contributed to the burn injuries, but a “fire pot.” A firepot is simply a device, usually a earthenware pot that is filled with a flammable liquid or substance to hold fire.

At the Del Mar home, apparently a fire pot, hanging overhead, fell, and doused the three victims with flammable gel that sticks to the body. According to Fire Marshall Battalion Chief Robert Scott:

These items are described as bombs in a bottle. Refueling the devices while ignited or still hot is dangerous…[The gel]…will stick to the body and clothes and you need an extinguisher or wool blanket to get it out, the stop, drop and roll method won’t work.

According to 10News, fire pots have been linked to numerous serious injuries and a few deaths, and many retailers have stopped selling these products because of the risks they create. Indeed, there have been several lawsuits against gel-filled fire pot manufacturers because of the dangers they present.

See Related Blog Posts:

What Are “Pain and Suffering” Damages? Oceanside Man Severely Burned in Construction Accident.

The most frequently asked question we get as personal injury lawyers is, what are my pain and suffering damages worth? There is never an easy answer to that question, because it depends on so many different factors. To determine what they’re worth, it’s helpful to first discuss what pain and suffering damages are.

First, they’re not really called “pain and suffering damages.” Many lawyers refer to them as general damages, or non-economic damages, because they tend to refer to those damages above and beyond things like medical bills and lost income. Generally speaking, damages for “pain and suffering” are designed to compensate the personal injury victim for all physical, mental, and emotional suffering and/or distress that arises from an incident causing bodily injury. These are the damages that compensate for the “impact” the injury has had on a person’s life.

While there is no legal definition for “pain,” it is generally described as the nerve impulses sent to the brain to express some form of distress. How the pain is compensated usually depends on the nature, extent, and duration of the pain, and the injured party’s ability to characterize the pain. Medical records, and sometimes the testimony of a doctor, are frequently used to support an injured person’s claims of pain, and it is always helpful to have objective medical data to support claims of pain.

The actual “suffering” is usually described as the mental component associated with the pain, although not always. In addition to the obvious emotional component associated with actual pain, suffering is also characterized as shock, anxiety, worry, embarrassment, disfigurement, grief, fear, and the loss of enjoyment of life.

Now the big question, how do you compute the value of general damages? What are they worth? This is the great mystery. The short answer is, it depends on the nature and extent of the actual injury, and then the individual’s response to it. Some lawyers and insurance adjusters will suggest a calculation based on the amount of medical bills (e.g. 3 x med bills), but that’s not necessarily the most accurate way to calculate these damages. For example, someone who lost their thumb in an accident may not have the same amount of medical bills as some who was rear-ended on the freeway, but the impact on the life of a thumb-amputee would likely be so much greater (generally speaking, of course).

Ultimately, there is no particular kind of evidence need to prove these damages; it is simply the job of the jury, after weighing the testimony of the injury party and any other supportive witnesses, to infer from their own general knowledge what those damages are worth. Good lawyering can help maximize those damages, but it is ultimate going to be decided on the facts of the case, and the objective evidence of injury.

The San Diego personal injury lawyers at Walton Law Firm represent individuals who have been injured in all types of accidents, including auto accidents, wrongful death cases, dog bites, auto accidents, worksite injuries, pedestrian injuries, construction accidents, property injuries, and malpractice matters. Call (760) 571-5500 for a free consultation.

But what most people don’t know is that the true case of Stella Liebeck, the plaintiff in the McDonald’s coffee case has a very compelling story. Now filmmaker Susan Saladoff is trying to complete a documentary about the case, and to get the true facts out there.

For example, most people are not aware that:

• Ms. Liebeck was not driving at the time of spill, but was a passenger.

• After the spill, a vascular surgeon determined that Ms. Liebeck suffered third-degree burns over 6 percent of her body, on the area of her inner thighs, perineum, buttocks, and genital and groin areas. She required skin grafting surgery.

• She offered to settle her case for $20,000, but McDonald’s rejected it.

• During discovery, McDonalds produced documents showing it had received more than 700 claims by people burned by its coffee between 1982 and 1992.

According to the website, Hot Coffee the movie will reveal what really happened to Stella Liebeck, and explore “how and why the case garnered so much media attention, who funded the effort and to what end. After seeing this documentary film, you will decide who really profited from spilling hot coffee.”

Here’s a trailer for the movie, which is currently raising funds to complete.

Source: HotCoffeeTheMovie.com The San Diego accident and injury attorneys at Walton Law Firm represent individuals who have been injured in all types of accidents, including auto accidents, worksite injuries, nursing home neglect, food poisoning, pedestrian injuries, construction accidents, property injuries, and malpractice matters. Call (760 571-5500 for a free and confidential.

At Tri-City, a patient was seriously burned when a cauterization machine ignited oxygen in a breathing mask and causing a fire. According to reports, the man was hospitalized for breathing difficulties, and then underwent a procedure to insert a tracheotomy when the fire-incident occurred.

The Pomerado Hospital incident involved a psychiatric patient who suffered brain damage when he tipped over backwards in a reclining chair, and struck his head on the floor. The man was apparently noted to be a very high fall risk, but, according to the State, the hospital failed to take adequate precautions to prevent the incident.

Both hospitals told the North County Times that they will appeal the fines.

Source: North County Times

The injury and malpractice lawyers at Walton Law Firm represent individuals who have been injured in all types of accidents, including auto accidents, worksite injuries, pedestrian injuries, construction accidents, property injuries, and malpractice matters. Call (760) 571-5500 for a free consultation.

The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, and it is still unclear if the accident was caused by driver negligence or whether the truck malfunctioned in some way. Anyone with information about the crash is encouraged to contact the Imperial County office of the California Highway Patrol.

View Larger Map

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

The San Diego truck accident lawyers at the Walton Law Firm represent individuals and families who have been impacted in all types of trucking accidents. Call 760-571-5500 for a free consultation.

The lawsuit addresses the sequence of events that took place on a road near the Varshock home on the first day of the fire. Varshock and his son were driving away from their home to flee the fire when they encountered four firefighters. There was a discussion between Varshock and firefighters, then the Varshocks climbed aboard the truck with the firefighters, who drove them back to the Varshock home. Upon arrival, the fire fighters immediately started fighting spot fires, but were quickly overcome by flames that engulfed both the Varshock home, and the fire truck that was parked nearby. The fire fighters were also badly burned.

The California Department of Forestry (or Cal Fire), the named defendant, disputes this rendition of facts. It says that the Varshocks insisted on returning to their home, and only ended up in the fire truck after the Varshock’s vehicle stalled.

Obviously there is a huge difference in the story, which will likely be resolved by the lawsuit. Cal Fire has a number of legal defenses, including governmental immunities. If the family prevails, it will be entitled to money damages for the loss of love, society, companionship of Varshock, as well has the financial support. The son has his own separate case for his burn injuries.

Source: The San Diego Union Tribune

The accident and injury attorneys at the Walton Law Firm represent individuals and families who have been injured in all types of accidents, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, property injuries, and other negligence related injuries. Call 760-571-5500 for a free consultation.