Accidental burns are an unusually common problem, especially during the winter months when people’s need for heat can expose them to a greater number of burn hazards. Here are seven negligent behaviors that can lead to burn accidents:

• Failing to secure flammable items

1. 1. • One of the biggest reasons for burn accidents comes from people failing to keep flammable items, such as paper, cloth, or oil, away from fires or other sources of intense heat. When people are careless around fire, burns become almost inevitable.

• Leaving fires unattended

1. 1. • By the same token, no source of flame should ever be left unattended, and there should always be a fire extinguisher nearby in case a fire starts. This includes cooking fires, camp fires, and fires started in a fireplace.

• Giving portable heaters an insufficient amount of space

1. 1. • Many people rely on space heaters and other portable sources of heat to warm them during the winter months. However, these heaters need to be given enough space from walls or furniture, or else they may potentially start a fire and cause burn accidents.

• Overloading electrical sockets

1. 1. • For many people, the winter means getting their hands on a lot of fun new electronics, often as presents from friends and family. However, plugging too many devices into the same electrical socket is a great way to start an accidental fire, which may result in burn accidents.

• Putting candles on unsafe surfaces

1. 1. • Candles and incense can help light your home, provide an ambience, or help it smell nice. However, if you want to avoid a fire, they need to be placed on a stable surface out of the reach of children or pets, or else a dangerous accident becomes very likely.

• Failing to safely extinguish cigarettes

1. 1. • Smoking is a dangerous habit on its own, but it can become dangerous for more than the smoker if they fail to put their cigarette out in an ashtray or other safe surface. More than a few house fires have begun from a cigarette that was not fully extinguished and left near something flammable, such as dry grass.

• Mishandling dangerous chemicals

1. • Not all burns are caused by heat and fire. Chemical burns can be incredibly nasty, and unfortunately, it doesn’t take much carelessness to turn common household chemicals into sources of burn injuries. Common culprits include household cleaners like bleach or ammonia, as well as caustic chemicals like acetone or battery acid.

If you or someone you know has been sickened or injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, contact the New York personal injury lawyers at the Katter Law Firm. We will help you protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve. To schedule a consultation, contact us at 212-809-4293, or visit our contact page.