Burn Injuries

May 9, 2011

Boston Hospital Gives Full Face Transplant to Man Burned in Construction Accident

Two-and-a-half years after suffering severe electrical burns during a construction accident, Dallas Wiens has received a complete face transplant. Over 30 doctors, anesthesiologists, and nurses at Brigham and Woman’s Hospital in Boston conducted the procedure to give the 25-year-old construction worker a new face.

After the boom lift he was working struck a power line, Wiens fell into a coma for nearly three months Doctors thought he would never talk or walk again and that he would be paralyzed from the neck down. They also didn’t think he would be able to eat regular food. Wiens, who underwent 22 surgeries, lost all of his facial features, except for a lipless mouth. He is now blind.

Wiens’s transplant included the donor’s entire face and is the most complete facial transplant conducted in this country to date. He also can now smell, feel, and breathe on his own.

February 18, 2011

Electrical Issue May Have Cause Fatal Westfield, Massachusetts Fire that Killed Elderly Couple

by Altman & Altman

The Boston Herald is reporting that according to fire safety officials, an electrical problem appears to have caused the fire that claimed the lives of 82-year-old Douglas Anderson and his 84-year-old Gladys. The two were found inside their burning home in Westfield, Massachusetts yesterday afternoon.

Police say that smoke inhalation appears to have been the cause of death. There were no working smoke alarms in the house’s first or second floors. The fire appears to have started in a bedroom on the first floor where the damage seems to have been contained. However, the house’s interior sustained heavy smoke damage. Depending on what the electrical issue was, the Andersons’ adult children may have grounds for filing a Massachusetts wrongful death claim.

Common causes of house fires:
• Cooking accidents • Smoking accidents • Heating accidents • Electrical accidents • Faulty electrical wiring • Machinery or appliance defects
Fires can lead to burn injuries, disfigurement, smoke inhalation, scarring, and death.

Smoke Inhalation
According to emedicinehealth.com, smoke inhalation is the number one cause of death. 50-80% of fire fatalities are caused by smoke inhalation. Signs of smoke inhalation may include coughing, shortness of breath, breathing issues, irritated eyes, change in skin color, soot in the throat or nose, headaches, confusion, seizures, fainting, or coma.

If you believe that a fire that resulted in injury or death was caused by another party’s negligence, you may have grounds for a Massachusetts personal injury case.

Westfield residents Gladys and Douglas Anderson killed in fire at their Overlook Drive home, MassLive, February 17, 2011
Elderly couple die in Westfield fire, Boston Herald, February 18, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Home Fire Safety Tips

Smoke Inhalation, emedicinehealth

More Boston Injury Lawyer Blog Posts:
Quincy Apartment Where Fire Killed Father and Two Children Was in Illegal Basement and Didn’t Have Sprinklers or Working Smoke Alarm, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, September 3, 2009
58 Fire Fatalities in Massachusetts in 2007, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 4, 2008 Continue reading

November 24, 2010

Prevent Thanksgiving Turkey Fryer Injuries

by Altman & Altman

Thanksgiving right around the corner, and many of us are looking forward to eating delicious turkey–whether it be cooked traditionally in the oven or deep-fried. Although deep-fried turkeys are a tasty and fun alternative, turkey frying can be extremely dangerous. Turkey-frying accidents can cause serious burns from hot oil heated at more than 350 degrees. Turkey fryers are fired by propane tanks that can cause devastating fires. Temperature controls can sometimes malfunction because of a defect in the appliance. Even worse, the appliance might not even have temperature controls. Given these possibilities, it is important to observe safety measures to prevent personal injury from ruining your holidays.

Tips to Keep You and Yours Safe if You’re Frying Your Thanksgiving Turkey:

1. Do not fry the turkey indoors. Make sure that the fryer is a safe distance from your home.
2. Keep children and pets away from the cooking area.
3. Get a big pot and a smaller-sized turkey.
4. Make sure that the base of the fryer is secure.
5. Always keep the turkey fryer in view.
6. Check the temperature of the oil often.
7. Cover skin to avoid burns.
Continue reading

August 11, 2010

Massachusetts Personal Injury Settlement Reached in MIT Fraternity Prank that Severely Injured Two Volunteers

by Altman & Altman

A confidential Massachusetts injury settlement has been reached between the plaintiffs, Katie Nardin and Thomas Soisson, and the insurers of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity and MIT graduate Bhaskar Mookerji. Nardin and Soisson sustained severe chemical burn injuries to the face, arms, and legs while doing environmental cleanup volunteer work on the Charles River Cleanup Boat on September 6, 2007.

A Styrofoam-like object that was scooped up from the water and deposited in a plastic trash barrel on the boat exploded, causing their injuries. The object, which was actually sodium metal, had been stolen from an MIT school lab as part of an annual tradition that involves throwing the material into the Charles River.

Mookerji, now 22, came forward in April 2008 and admitted that he threw the sodium metal into the water. He was charged with environmental pollution and disorderly conduct. The criminal charges against him were eventually dropped.

Soisson had to have skin graft surgery for his injuries and has spent a great deal of time recovering. Nardin received treatment for her burn injuries and has had to seek medical attention another nine times because of infection and scarring. The Massachusetts personal injury compensation settlement is for their physical injuries and emotional trauma.

The blast also cost thousands of dollars in decontamination efforts.

Chemical Burns can cause:
• Tissue damage • Blisters • Numbness or pain • Black dead skin • Vision problems • Low blood pressure • Seizures • Cardiac arrest
Chemical burns can be very painful and traumatic.

Deal reached in MIT fraternity prank, Boston.com, August 10, 2010
Confession linked TEP to Na injuries, The Tech Online, March 12, 2010
Chemical Burns, emedicinehealth

Related Web Resources:
Tau Epsilon Phi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Charles River Cleanup Boat
Continue reading

March 26, 2009

Quincy Apartment Where Fire Killed Father and Two Children Was in Illegal Basement and Didn’t Have Sprinklers or Working Smoke Alarm

by Altman & Altman

According to the Quincy building commissioner, the apartment where a man and his two children were killed in a fire on Wednesday was illegally constructed in a basement that did not contain sprinklers or a working smoke detector. Three other families who live in the apartment building say that the smoke alarms in their units also do not work.

The white building, made in 1927 on Robertson Street, was only authorized to house four apartment buildings, yet additional apartments had been constructed in the basement and attic. While there were smoke alarms in building’s hallways, per state law, they had accidentally been deactivated.

Investigators are still trying to find out what caused the fire that ignited a sofa in the basement at around 3am, filling the apartment with thick smoke. While the man, Oudah Frawi, and his two sons, Ali Oudah, 1, and Hassan, 2-months-old, died, firefighters transported his wife Terri Night to Massachusetts General Hospital where she was admitted to the burn trauma unit with critical injuries.

The fire has damaged the building and many residents are currently unable to return to it.

Premises Liability
Apartment landlords are responsible for making sure that all safety devices are installed and are proper working condition on the premises and there are no hazardous or dangerous conditions that could cause injury or death to residents, visitors, or patrons. They also must make sure that there are no inadequate security conditions that could allow for violent crimes to occur on the property.

Some conditions on a premise that could be grounds for landlord negligence if someone gets hurt or dies:
• Lead paint • Asbestos fibers • Broken window • Lack of security measures • Defective pool drain • Nonworking smoke alarms • Electrical hazards
Quincy fire victims died in illegal apartment, BostonHerald.com, March 25, 2009
Quincy fire consumes life made anew in US, Boston.com, March 26, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Inspectional Services Department, City of Boston

Premises Liability Overview, Justia Continue reading

December 10, 2008

Leading Causes of Child Deaths Are Also Common Causes of Personal Injuries and Wrongful Deaths

by Altman & Altman

Unicef and the World Health Organization say that 830,000 children are killed around the world in accidents. Their report, the World Report on Child Injury Prevention, is the first report to gather all known information on child injuries and deaths around the globe.

The report’s estimates are acknowledged to be broad because so many poor countries are unable to collect many health statistics. The findings also take into account that there are many children who are injured or killed without receiving medical care.

According to the report, the most common causes of fatal child injuries around the world include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Burn injuries • Drowning accidents • Fall Accidents
• Poison
Other common causes of death include murder, serious illnesses, diseases, childbirth, and abortion.

The United Nations is encouraging governments to require safety measures, such as pool fences and bicycle helmets, that could save thousands of kids’ lives each year. The UN Children’s Fund and WHO report says use of lifejackets, childproof medicines, window guards, and smoke alarms, could also save many lives.

In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12,175 children are killed in accidents each year:

• US motor vehicle collisions continue to be the leading cause of death for kids 1 year of age or older.
• Suffocation is the number one cause of death among kids younger than 1.
• Drowning accidents is a leading cause of death for kids ages 1 to 4.

CDC injury prevention chief Ileana Arias says making kids younger than 8 ride in booster sides, passing graduated driver’s license laws in more US states, and barring teens from driving with other teens or at night could save lives.

In Massachusetts and other US states, these lists of common injuries and deaths can be grounds for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits if another party was negligent in causing the motor vehicle crash, burn accident, dog attack, fall accident, suffocation accident, or another injury accident to occur.

Report Sounds Alarm on Child Accidents, NY Times, December 9, 2008
Preventable injuries kill 2000 children every day, WHO, December 10, 2008
Car Crashes, Falls Top List of Accidental Injuries for Kids, US News and World Report, December 10, 2008
Related Web Resources:

Read the World Report on Child Injury Prevention (PDF)

UNICEF
Continue reading

September 18, 2008

Rock Band Great White To Pay Injury Victims Of 2003 Club Fire $1 Million

by Altman & Altman

Five years after a pyrotechnics display at a nightclub killed 100 people during a rock concert, the Great White band has reached a $1 million settlement agreement with survivors and victims families. Over 200 people were injured in the fatal fire. Great White band member Ty Longley also died in the blaze, which has been called the 4th worst nightclub blaze in US history.

The fire broke out at The Station, a Rhode Island nightclub, when band tour manager Daniel Biechele ignited pyrotechnics at the start of the concert. The packaging foam used by the club to soundproof around the stage caught on fire. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter, as did nightclub owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian.

Dozens of plaintiffs have been named as defendants in lawsuits filed by fire victims and family members.

March 10, 2008

Mother Considers Suing Massachusetts Water Park for Children’s Chemical Burn Injuries

by Altman & Altman

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.

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 Continue reading

January 25, 2008

Two Massachusetts Students Get $18.9 Million Personal Injury Settlement For Burn Accident Caused By Chemistry Experiment

by Altman & Altman

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.

January 4, 2008

58 Fire Fatalities in Massachusetts in 2007

by Altman & Altman

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 Continue reading