burn injury

Published on: December 12, 2011

Georgia Worker Seriously Injured in Power Line Electrocution – Workers’ Compensation Claim Likely

A worker in Kennesaw, Georgia was seriously injured in an electrocution accident last month.The man, a welder was in a bucket truck when the boom of the truck came in contact with a high-voltage overhead power line.It was a 4160 V power line, and the impact immediately resulted in serious electrical injuries to the man.He was rushed to the local hospital burn unit, and then transferred to a burn center in Augusta.

The man’s employer, Vulcan Materials and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration are investigating the work accident. In the event there is a personal injury claim against a third-party in addition to any workers’ compensation claim, the reports from these investigations will be vitally important. to the personal injury lawyer handling the case.

Many occupations require workers to be in close contact with high-voltage power lines.These workers include construction workers, mining workers, truck drivers, people in the tree trimming and tree service industry, and agricultural workers.Electrical utility workers are also often in close contact with power lines.However, the difference between electrical workers and other types of workers is that electrical utility workers are generally trained to identify the dangers of electrocution in their work, and avoid these dangers.Other types of workers may not have the benefit of such training.

Published on: October 26, 2011

Trial Date Set for Pipeline Explosion Lawsuits

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Persons who have filed personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits related to a deadly pipeline explosion in California last year that killed eight people and left dozens injured, will have to wait until July 2012 for justice.A judge in California has set a trial date for the lawsuits for July 23, 2012.Currently, there are more than 90 lawsuits that have been filed against Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the company that operated the pipeline.

Eight people died and dozens of homes were destroyed when a piece of natural gas pipeline ruptured and exploded in a section of San Bruno.The resulting flames blazed for hours, burning down homes.According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the explosion was a direct result of negligence by Pacific Gas & Electric Company.The pipeline which exploded had suffered a fracture from a partially welded seam on one section.

The pipeline had been installed in 1956, when the area was sparsely populated.However, the National Transportation Safety Board found that the pipeline did not meet the existing quality control and welding standards in 1956.The Board found that quality standards had been either overlooked by the company, or ignored.

Published on: April 9, 2011

Workers Compensation Claim arises out of Serious Burns in Hall County Electrical Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A worker at a wastewater treatment plant in Hall County has suffered serious burn injuries in an electrical accident this week.This type of accident generally results in a complex workers compensation claim. The workers compensation insurance company often launches an immediate investigation to determine if there is any basis to deny the claim. The insurance company will then work hard to direct the person’s care to limit their financial exposure in the matter. As Atlanta workers compensation attorneys are well aware, it is important for workers injured in severe accidents to obtain counsel as soon as reasonably possible.

Also, this type of accident often results in a personal injury claim against a third party. For instance, the injuries may have resulted from a defective product or the negligence of a third party who previously worked on the device. Accordingly, a worker should make certain that the incident is thoroughly investigated for any potential third party personal injury claim.

The man, an electrician, was apparently the employee of a subcontractor, and was working at the County- owned Spout Springs Water Reclamation Facility when the electrical panel he was working on, exploded.The man suffered serious burn injuries, and was rushed to the Grady Memorial Hospital, one of the premier burn treatment facilities in the country.

Published on: March 10, 2011

Spotlight on Burn Injury Risks from Defective Car Seat Heaters

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

During some of the freezing winter days that Atlanta personal injury lawyers and residents suffered over the past few months, cars with seat heaters seemed akin to a blessing from above.However, there are serious burn injury risks linked to the car seat heaters found in many popular auto models.The burn injury risk is especially significant for the disabled and physically challenged persons. Car accidents may happen, but this is a preventable injury.

In fact, just about every other auto manufacturer has, at some point, recalled car seat heaters for malfunctioning.However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has never found the need to act on incidents where the car seat heaters have heated to levels beyond human tolerance.Now, a group of safety advocates has asked the federal administration to look closer at defective and malfunctioning car seat heaters that have caused serious burn injuries.

The risk of burn injuries from defective car seat heaters is the highest among the disabled and physically challenged.These people may have limited or no sensation in their lower limbs, which means that when a car seat heater heats up to dangerously high levels, the person only finds out that he’s being burnt when it is too late.Some of these people have ended up with third-degree burns.Currently, there are no federal standards in place for car seat heaters, and that has meant consumers are using seat heaters that are not required to meet any safety standards.Very often, car seat heaters do not come with a switch on/off mechanism that allows a person to switch off the heater when it is warming up to intolerable levels.

Published on: February 19, 2011

What Atlanta Accident Victims Can Expect after a Burn Injury

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Last week, the American Burn Association commemorated National Burn Awareness Week, to highlight the dangers to children and adults from fire and burn hazards. Although the focus of the American Burn Association tends to be towards household burn hazards, Atlanta injury attorneys often come across victims who have suffered serious burn injuries in car accidents, truck accidents, and workplace accidents.

Burn injuries are easily some of the most traumatic injuries that a person can suffer. A burn injury victim can expect severe pain over the short-term, and scarring, paralysis and impaired nerve function over the long-term. The hours and days after a serious burn injury can be critical for a patient. In such cases, the skin may have been severely burned down to the deeper layers, and the patient may be at a high risk of infections.

Once the patient is discharged from the hospital, he or she could be looking at a long period of taking care of the injury and the wound site. The patient will have to be on medication for a few weeks, and will be asked to be on plenty of fluids. The injury site will be cleaned periodically, and, patients will have to take care to avoid contamination of the wound.

Published on: July 2, 2010

Prevent Fireworks Injuries on the Fourth of July

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Prevent Fireworks Injuries on the Fourth Of July

With just a few days to go to everyone’s favorite holiday of the calendar, it’s important to keep in mind that every year, approximately 9,000 people have to be rushed to emergency rooms with fireworks-related injuries on the Fourth of July.

Not all fireworks are allowed under Georgia law. Sparklers, party poppers and snakes are allowed, but shooting rockets and any other fireworks that explode in the air are not permitted. If you insist on having your own fireworks party, make sure that you have a sober and responsible adult in charge of the festivities. Keep the following safety tips in mind:

Published on: April 28, 2009

Albany Industrial Accident Leaves Employee with Burn Injuries

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A fire at the Equinox Chemical Plant in Albany has left one person severely burnt. The flash fire occurred on April 15^th. 37-year-old Jason Pate suffered second and third degree burn injuries over up to 70% of his body. He was taken to the Augusta Burn Center where his condition has been listed as critical.

According to preliminary investigations, Pate was operating chemical machinery when two gas kit seals suddenly ruptured, due to pressure. That caused the manifold system to blow off the Acetylene, igniting and sparking a fire. The company has shut down production, pending an investigation of the accident. Firefighters remained at the plant all night to ensure that all Acetylene tanks were empty, and there was no danger of fire.

Fire safety is imperative in a chemical plant where the risk of fire and explosions is always present. Burns that result from a chemical fire are severe, leaving long term scars. These burns are extremely painful, and cause significant tissue damage. In cases that are as severe as Pate’s case here, skin grafting may be necessary. All this means many days away from work while the body heals enough to allow for skin graft surgery, as well as a long healing period later.