In March, the Kennedy Elementary School in Chicago Heights was reportedly evacuated following a small fire that was apparently caused by a space heater. According to Anthony Leli, a School District 170 official, the unattended heater caused a chair to ignite unexpectedly inside of the school library. Leli said although the fire was extinguished by a passing maintenance worker, the local fire department was summoned to the school. Investigators from the Chicago Heights Fire Department allegedly ruled the small fire an accident and declined to issue a citation in connection with the incident. Thankfully, none of the children who were using the library when the fire broke out were harmed.
Sadly, many people in Chicago and across the nation are injured in building and other fires every year. According to the American Burn Association, an estimated 450,000 Americans required medical treatment for a burn injury in 2011. In addition, more than half of those burned apparently required hospitalization and about 3,500 died as result of their injury. Nearly 68 percent of persons admitted to a specialized burn center in 2011 were purportedly hurt at their home, and approximately 10 percent of serious burn injuries occurred at work. American Burn Association data also claims that about seven percent of serious burns sustained across the United States in 2011 resulted from a traffic accident.
Although burn injuries are frequently caused by building fires and car wrecks, they may also result from electrical, cooking, scalding, industrial, and other accidents. Regrettably, the victim of a serious burn injury will generally require long-term medical care that can include rehabilitation and plastic surgery. Severe injuries can require lifelong medical care and treatment. If you were severely burned as a result of someone else’s negligent act, you may be eligible to collect financial compensation for your pain, suffering, lost wages and benefits, medical expenses, and other damages. When a child under age 18 is injured, his or her parents or guardians are entitled to bring an injury claim or lawsuit on the child’s behalf. You are advised to contact a quality personal injury lawyer to discuss your options for recovery following any severe burn injury.
If you or your child suffered a serious burn injury in Chicago, you should call Abels & Annes, P.C. at (312) 475-9596 today. Our knowledgeable Chicago child injury attorneys are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to help you file your personal injury case. For a free consultation with an experienced lawyer, do not hesitate to contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through the law firm’s website.
More Blogs:
Former Markham Police Officer Charged in Chicago With Federal Civil Rights Violations Related to Alleged Sexual Abuse, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, March 19, 2013
IDOT Hopes to Reduce Preventable Traffic Fatalities by Publishing Statistics on Highway Message Boards in Chicago and Throughout the State, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, March 14, 2013
Additional Resources:
No Students Hurt in Fire at Elementary School, by Nick Swedberg, ChicagoHeightsPatch