Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

A Connecticut woman is considering filing a personal injury lawsuit for the chemical burn injuries she says that her children sustained while swimming at CoCo Key Water Resort, a Danvers, Massachusetts water park.

Kristen Baker says that her daughter Emily, 9, and son Austin, 11, experienced blisters, rashes, skin burns, and breathing problems after a visit to the resort during a chaperoned girl scout trip. She attributes the injuries to the high levels of chlorine that the children were allegedly exposed to while at the 65,000 square foot indoor park.

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center diagnosed that the kids had chemical burns. Out of the 14 kids that took part in the Girl Scout trip, 12 say they experienced chemical burns.

The resort closed last week after a number of visitors, in addition to Baker’s kids, complained of similar symptoms. Massachusetts public health officials found that the level of chlorine in the water used by the park was 10 to 20 times higher than the minimum requirement. They also found that the park lacked the necessary equipment to test how much chlorine was in the water and that one of the park’s hot tubs lacked a thermometer.

Premise owners are obligated to make sure that their properties are safe for visitors, residents, and patrons. When a hazardous condition exists on a premise that results in human injuries or death, the injured parties can claim damages by filing a premises liability or another type of personal injury claim or lawsuit.

The park will not be reopened until it passes a retest.

If you or someone you love has sustained an injury while on someone else’s premise, one of our Boston, Massachusetts personal injury lawyers would be happy to help you determine whether you have grounds to file a case. Our premises liability attorneys represent clients throughout Massachusetts.

Chlorine Exposure
Chlorine is often used as a water purifier and is found in pools and water rides. Exposure to high levels of chlorine, however, can result in injuries, including:

• Coughing
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Problems breathing
• Bluish skin coloring
• Chemical burns
• Blisters or swelling to the skin
• Burning eyes
• Severe eye pain
• Blurred vision
• Burning sensation in the throat
• Tissue injury
• Vomiting
• Pneumonia
• Lung collapse

Water-resort injuries may lead to lawsuit, Nashuatelegraph.com, March 7, 2008

Related Web Resources:

CoCo Key Water Resort

Significance of Chlorine in the United States, EPI.state.nc.us

Chlorine, CDC.gov

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Posted In: Burn Injuries , Premises Liability

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Calais Weber and Cecilia Chen, both 17, are now college students studying in Massachusetts. Calais is a Wellesley College undergraduate, while Chen studies at Harvard. The two students are also burn injury survivors of a chemistry experiment gone bad when they were high school students at Western Reserve Academy, a private boarding school in Ohio.

This month, the two students and their families settled their personal injury lawsuit with the school for $18.9 million. Weber and her family received $13.1 million, and Chen and her family received $5.8 million.

46% of Weber’s body sustained burn injuries. She became very depressed after the accident and considered committing suicide. She has had at least 16 surgeries to treat her injuries so far and says she was unrecognizable to herself after the accident.

Chen still has more procedures to undergo even though she already has had three of them.

The two students were burned after a chemistry experiment caught on fire. They were watching their teacher show the class how chemical salts, when burned, exhibit different colors. Methanol was being used. A flash fire resulted.

Prior to taking the class, all of the students had signed contracts stipulating the use of safety equipment. Even though protective gear was available in the classroom, they weren’t used.

The families say that the teacher acted negligently because she did not implement safety measures when conducting the experiment. The family’s Ohio personal injury lawyer says that the teacher should have conducted the experiment at least 10 feet away from the students, as well as used a safety shield and vent system.

The girls plan to use part of their settlement to hire a specialist to improve school safety conditions.

Also injured in the fire were a teacher and her son, 11, who were visiting the classroom at the time of the accident.

Burn Injuries
Burn injuries caused by another party’s negligence can be grounds for a burn accident claim or lawsuit. If you were injured in a burn accident in the Greater Boston area or anywhere in Massachusetts, you should contact a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer right away.

Recovering from a burn injury can be very costly. Burn injuries are extremely dangerous and can lead to infection, complications, excruciating pain, and scarring. Emotional trauma frequently accompanies a burn injury and medical costs can be very costly—especially if multiple and ongoing surgeries are involved.

Students in fire at Western Reserve Academy settle lawsuit, The Plain Dealer, January 18, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Western Reserve Academy

Burn Injury Information, Phoenix Society for Burn Injuries

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Out of the 58 people that died in Massachusetts due to fires in 2007, 11 of these fatalities took place in Boston and 11 of the year’s fatalities occurred in December. The death toll from fire accidents could rise if any of those who survived accidental fires but sustained serious burn injuries end up dying.

While some fire accidents can be caused by personal negligence, such as when a lit cigarette butt is left unattended or a towel is accidentally tossed onto a space heater, there are accidents where injuries can occur because another party was negligent. For example:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Faulty electrical wiring
• Fires that are not properly supervised
• Plane crashes
• Work-related accidents
• Defective products
• Cooking accident

Accidents involving fires can lead to serious burn injuries that can be very painful and traumatic for the victim. Medical care can be very costly. A burn injury victim may have to undergo multiple surgeries, including plastic surgery, skin graft surgery, and reconstructive surgery. You may have to be treated at a special burn unit.

A person may sustain first-degree burns, second-degree burns, and third degree burns. Some scars and internal injuries may be impossible to heal or recover from.

If your burn injuries occurred because someone else was negligent, there are steps that you can take to sue for personal injury compensation. A Massachusetts burn injury lawyer can assist you.

The American Burn Association says that 500,000 people are treated for burn injuries in the United States every year. 4,000 burn-related deaths occur annually.

Fire Deaths Jumped 32% in 2007, Boston NOW, January 3, 2008

Burn Incidence and Treatment in the US: 2007 Fact Sheet, American Burn Association

Related Web Resources:

Burn Prevention Foundation

Types of Burns, Strong Regional Burn Center

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