Chemical Burns from hot tub

[Red Walker]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

I am just responding to what apparently seems to be an old thread. I was researching chemical burns and this site was one of the links posted from my google search.

Someone from Ohio had stated they received chemical (acid) burns from the hot tub at their apartment. Some of the posters here (I'm assuming they are attorneys) tried to be helpful while others ridiculed the original poster.

I also am from Ohio, however, my similar incident resulted from a hot tub at a resort in Florida while on vacation.

The poster stated that his injuries were a result of acid (muriatic?) and while this may be possible, I believe that his injuries were sustained as a result of too much chlorine in the hot tub.

I suffered severe (in my opinion) chemical burn injuries to both of my upper thighs, scrotum, and penis. While in a sophmoric way, this can appear to be humorous, I assure you that it is not. The pain is extreme and can continue (and intensify, as mine did) if not medically treated immediately.

My advice to the poster or anyone else who happens to experience this unfortunate injury is to go to the emergency room immediately. My incident was around 11:30 at night and I could not sleep. I ended up standing the whole night hoping the pain would dissipate (as I did not understand what had happened). The pain only continued as well as intensified to the point where I could no longer tolerate it. I had my wife drive me to the emergency room at 9:00am the next morning and was told I suffered a chemical burn. They cleansed the injured areas with saline (after receiving a tetnus shot and THREE shots for my pain) and then a topical treatment with 1% silver sulphadiazine cream and wrapped in gauze.

This was a tremendous relief and the subsequent pain I experienced was managed with the percocets prescribed by the attending physician. While the pain was not as severe in the following days, it did continue and I had to wait another two days before I could take on the 20 hour drive back home to Ohio.

I did retain the services of a personal injury law firm before I left Florida and hopefully we can reach a settlement in a timely manner.

I was appalled by the behavior of some of the posters here and would think that if they are attorneys, they would present themselves in a manner befitting their profession. The injuries sustained and the subsequent treatment is humiliating enough. Is it really necessary to treat someone like that regardless of how well they articulate themselves?

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by Red Walker

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida

I am just responding to what apparently seems to be an old thread. I was researching chemical burns and this site was one of the links posted from my google search.

Someone from Ohio had stated they received chemical (acid) burns from the hot tub at their apartment. Some of the posters here (I'm assuming they are attorneys) tried to be helpful while others ridiculed the original poster.

I also am from Ohio, however, my similar incident resulted from a hot tub at a resort in Florida while on vacation.

The poster stated that his injuries were a result of acid (muriatic?) and while this may be possible, I believe that his injuries were sustained as a result of too much chlorine in the hot tub.

I suffered severe (in my opinion) chemical burn injuries to both of my upper thighs, scrotum, and penis. While in a sophmoric way, this can appear to be humorous, I assure you that it is not. The pain is extreme and can continue (and intensify, as mine did) if not medically treated immediately.

My advice to the poster or anyone else who happens to experience this unfortunate injury is to go to the emergency room immediately. My incident was around 11:30 at night and I could not sleep. I ended up standing the whole night hoping the pain would dissipate (as I did not understand what had happened). The pain only continued as well as intensified to the point where I could no longer tolerate it. I had my wife drive me to the emergency room at 9:00am the next morning and was told I suffered a chemical burn. They cleansed the injured areas with saline (after receiving a tetnus shot and THREE shots for my pain) and then a topical treatment with 1% silver sulphadiazine cream and wrapped in gauze.

This was a tremendous relief and the subsequent pain I experienced was managed with the percocets prescribed by the attending physician. While the pain was not as severe in the following days, it did continue and I had to wait another two days before I could take on the 20 hour drive back home to Ohio.

I did retain the services of a personal injury law firm before I left Florida and hopefully we can reach a settlement in a timely manner.

I was appalled by the behavior of some of the posters here and would think that if they are attorneys, they would present themselves in a manner befitting their profession. The injuries sustained and the subsequent treatment is humiliating enough. Is it really necessary to treat someone like that regardless of how well they articulate themselves?

Did you have a legal question?

[ecmst12]

I have no idea what thread you are referring to, but some people who post here do indeed need to be ridiculed. At other times, regulars are unnecesarily harsh with posters. Either way, this is the internet and nothing should be taken personally. If accurate legal information was given (not neccesarily that all questions were answered fully because that is not always possible, but that the info given was not wrong or misleading), then that is all anyone can ask for or expect.

People who come here looking to be told that they have a big payday coming for minor (or no) injuries, or serious injuries which were their own fault or no one's fault, do tend to get a harsh treatment. Usually because when they are told they don't have a case, they accuse people of lying or become hostile and nasty themselves. People who ask questions politely, and accept the answers given gracefully (even if it is not what they want to hear) are usually treated with respect in return.

[Red Walker]

Did you have a legal question?
__________________

lol.. Ok.

Sorry for the admonishment... but was a little upset.

I guess my questions would be better posed to the case manager from the law firm I retained. However, if you have any experience in a similar matter, my questions would be as follows:

1) What are the chances we will reach a settlement vs going to court?

2) Do you have an educated guess as to what the settlement amount may be? Medical costs incurred to date are approx. $2,200 and lost wages are approx. $400

Thank you

[Red Walker]

Originally Posted by ecmst12

I have no idea what thread you are referring to, but some people who post here do indeed need to be ridiculed. At other times, regulars are unnecesarily harsh with posters. Either way, this is the internet and nothing should be taken personally. If accurate legal information was given (not neccesarily that all questions were answered fully because that is not always possible, but that the info given was not wrong or misleading), then that is all anyone can ask for or expect.

People who come here looking to be told that they have a big payday coming for minor (or no) injuries, or serious injuries which were their own fault or no one's fault, do tend to get a harsh treatment. Usually because when they are told they don't have a case, they accuse people of lying or become hostile and nasty themselves. People who ask questions politely, and accept the answers given gracefully (even if it is not what they want to hear) are usually treated with respect in return.

Here is one of the posts to which I refer: [url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/environmental-toxic-torts-73/brun-308915.html[/url]

I don't see where the original poster conducted themselves in such a way as to be belittled. They did not become hostile, nasty, accusatory, etc. The thread was 3 years old, but was the one I was directed to as a result of my google search.

Yes, I know this is the internet and one can expect this type of behavior from cowards, I guess I just expected more from someone who posts on a site dedicated to helping fellow human beings. In fact, one poster DID admonish the offending poster, but instead of receiving support, she was in turn ridiculed. I must have confused this site with a political discussion group catering to morons. lol

Thanks for your response.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by Red Walker

1) What are the chances we will reach a settlement vs going to court?

Anywhere from none to absolute.

2) Do you have an educated guess as to what the settlement amount may be? Medical costs incurred to date are approx. $2,200 and lost wages are approx. $400

Anywhere from $0 to $1,000,000.93

Thank you

You're welcome.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by Red Walker

Here is one of the posts to which I refer: [url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/environmental-toxic-torts-73/brun-308915.html[/url]

One questionable post from a member who hasn't been around in nearly two years...

[Red Walker]

Originally Posted by Zigner

One questionable post from a member who hasn't been around in nearly two years...

Here is the link I was first directed to... the preceeding link was one contained within a poster's reply

[url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/other-personal-injury-wrongful-death-75/hot-tub-burn-308916.html[/url]

Sorry, but as I said, unfortunately this was my very first experience with this site and some of the replies looked as if they were posted by frustrated and unsuccessful comedians. If you're totally honest with yourself, I'd say you may even note a smart aleck tone to your answers. I'm sure you can and judging by your ''disclaimer'', I'm sure it's quite deliberate.

I'm not SO oblivious to the obvious that the chances could be none to absolute and that the settlement amount could be $0 to $1,000,000.93, rather I was asking you in good faith, if within your experiences, you could give a likely expectation.

I know enough to confidently assume that a personal injury law firm only receives compensation (33.3% in Florida) for their work if they bring an award to their client, that they are not inclined to take on the time and expense of a case that is not likely to be settled out of court and if it is settled, that the amount of that settlement is not likely to be $0.

Thanks for your time

[BlondiePB]

Originally Posted by Red Walker

Here is the link I was first directed to... the preceeding link was one contained within a poster's reply

[url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/other-personal-injury-wrongful-death-75/hot-tub-burn-308916.html[/url]

Sorry, but as I said, unfortunately this was my very first experience with this site and some of the replies looked as if they were posted by frustrated and unsuccessful comedians. If you're totally honest with yourself, I'd say you may even note a smart aleck tone to your answers. I'm sure you can and judging by your ''disclaimer'', I'm sure it's quite deliberate.

I'm not SO oblivious to the obvious that the chances could be none to absolute and that the settlement amount could be $0 to $1,000,000.93, rather I was asking you in good faith, if within your experiences, you could give a likely expectation.

I know enough to confidently assume that a personal injury law firm only receives compensation (33.3% in Florida) for their work if they bring an award to their client, that they are not inclined to take on the time and expense of a case that is not likely to be settled out of court and if it is settled, that the amount of that settlement is not likely to be $0.

Thanks for your time

Though I don't have as many posts as the other senior members that posted to this thread, Redwalker, I've been around more years. What happens a lot is trolls come along and begin posting fake threads that I can easily identify. One of best trolls that has infected this forum with fake threads in all categories is Arkie who still posts fake threads.

Since I live and vacation in FL, I spend a lot of time in hot tubs. Muriac acid in a hot tub was the big tip-off unlike you posting about too much chlorine.

So how long were you in the hot tub?

Edit: FYI, when the attorneys are done with their out-of-pocket costs that are charged to you, an out of court PI settlement will end up being aboutif not more than 40% to the attorneys.

[ecmst12]

To address your questions, more info is needed. One, do you have any evidence that the resort was negligent in the maintenence of the hot tub? Did you take a sample of the water and have the levels tested? Did anyone else experience burns? Or did you just have a hypersensitive reaction to the normal levels of chemicals?

Two, do you have any permanent damage or scarring or have your burns healed completely with no functional impairment?

[Red Walker]

Originally Posted by BlondiePB

Though I don't have as many posts as the other senior members that posted to this thread, Redwalker, I've been around more years. What happens a lot is trolls come along and begin posting fake threads that I can easily identify. One of best trolls that has infected this forum with fake threads in all categories is Arkie who still posts fake threads.

Since I live and vacation in FL, I spend a lot of time in hot tubs. Muriac acid in a hot tub was the big tip-off unlike you posting about too much chlorine.

So how long were you in the hot tub?

Edit: FYI, when the attorneys are done with their out-of-pocket costs that are charged to you, an out of court PI settlement will end up being aboutif not more than 40% to the attorneys.

Hi,

Ok.. I'll not belabor the point any further. My bad.

I misunderstood the purpose of this site.

In regards to your question about how long I was in the hot tub.

I was in and out of both the pool and the hot tub for a week at this resort. On the particular night of my injury, I was in and out of the hot tub from about 8pm till 11:30pm and not once did I feel exceptionally uncomfortable until my last visit to the hot tub around 11:30 that night.. the water felt as if the temperature had increased and could only get to about waist high until I could no longer bear it.. in fact I made a joke to my wife and another couple there that ''I'm roasting some serious chestnuts here'' and had to get out of the hot tub. My wife and the other couple had already removed themselves from the hot tub and were sitting on the edge with just their legs in the water.

In answer to the other posters question as to if anyone else received burns or could it be that I just had a hypersensitive reaction, I would say this.. I've been in and out of hot tubs and pools my whole life and never once have I had a hypersensitive reaction. In fact, I suffered pretty severe chemical burns as stated in my original post that required a trip to the emergency room and was diagnosed and treated as such. The chemicals ate all the hair off of my legs (which at 1 month later still has not grown back) and seriously discolored (faded) my brand new swimming trunks.

My wife and the other couple who were there that night (but not as long as I was during that last visit in the hot tub) suffered the following:

My wife's brand new swim suit was seriously discolored (faded) and over the next following days had splotching on her legs along with ''alligator skin''... (lol.. only way I can describe it).

We spoke with the other couple and discovered that they too were burned... the husband (who had jet black hair and was exceptionally hairy) said that it ate approx 80% of his hair from the waist down and what was left was bleached out. His wife said that she has not had to shave her legs for the past 3 weeks and that she could not put on socks for at least 2 weeks after that night due to pain. Her brand new swimsuit was extremely faded out as well.

I did not secure a sample of the water nor do I personally have any proof that they were negligient. The head security man that came to take my statement told me that they tested the levels and that they were ''off the charts''. The resort closed the hot tub when I called them that morning at 8:30am and were seen by the aforementioned couple of ''shoveling like mad'' chemicals into the pool. I returned back from the emergency room around 2:30pm that day and the head security man told me that they had ''just'' reopened the hot tub since they ''finally'' got the levels back to acceptable levels.

The resort comp'd my wife and I a room at the resort for two nights because I could not make the 20hr drive back to Ohio. The general manager told me they would pay for all of my medical expenses, reimburse for any damaged swim wear, and reimburse for any lost wages.

Instead, I contacted a personal injury law firm who took my case and told me not to have any further contact with the resort, that I should direct any questions or concerns that the resort may have to the law firm.

I have since emailed the other couple who informed me that they spoke with the GM of the resort and the GM said he would reimburse their damaged swim wear and comp them a week at any of their affiliated resorts, but if they needed further compensation to make them whole, they would have to sue the resort. He said the GM stressed he was not being nasty or insulting, just laying out the limitations that mid-level management had with the parent company.

Yes, I know that beyond the 33.3% that the law firm will take from any settlement, they will also ''charge'' back any of their costs and that the total could be around 40%.. it was all spelled out in the contract that I signed with them.

Thanks for your time

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by Red Walker

...

I did not secure a sample of the water nor do I personally have any proof that they were negligient.

...

This certainly weakens your case.

[ecmst12]

Well, it sounds like the resort knows they screwed up, so getting them to admit liability won't be too hard. Considering the number of other complaints they received that night, it would be difficult for them to deny it.

However you failed to answer my OTHER question regarding your damages. If you have no permanent damage/scarring from your injuries, then don't expect to get much more then you were originally offered - reimbursement for medical bills, damaged property, and lost wages. And it will take you a lot longer to get it since you got a lawyer involved. You might get a few hundred after legal fees, a year from now, if you're lucky.

Now, if you have permanent damage (quantifiable damage), then the value of your case depends on the severity of your damages.

[Red Walker]

Originally Posted by ecmst12

Well, it sounds like the resort knows they screwed up, so getting them to admit liability won't be too hard. Considering the number of other complaints they received that night, it would be difficult for them to deny it.

However you failed to answer my OTHER question regarding your damages. If you have no permanent damage/scarring from your injuries, then don't expect to get much more then you were originally offered - reimbursement for medical bills, damaged property, and lost wages. And it will take you a lot longer to get it since you got a lawyer involved. You might get a few hundred after legal fees, a year from now, if you're lucky.

Now, if you have permanent damage (quantifiable damage), then the value of your case depends on the severity of your damages.

Hi,

My burns have healed... the only lasting effect is the hair has not yet grown back on my legs. Not that I don't believe you or am questioning you (seems like a big no-no here)... I'm just asking because I don't know, but shouldn't there be any compensation for the intense pain I suffered. The humiliation of having to show my injuries to resort staff (person who took my statement) and also to the emergency room staff? It just seems to me that I should be able to reasonably expect to enjoy the resort's hot tub without sufferning burn on my ''boys'', endure excrutiating pain, ruined vacation, loss of sleep, etc.

Thanks

[BlondiePB]

,

Originally Posted by Red Walker

Hi,

My burns have healed... the only lasting effect is the hair has not yet grown back on my legs. Not that I don't believe you or am questioning you (seems like a big no-no here)... I'm just asking because I don't know, but shouldn't there be any compensation for the intense pain I suffered. The humiliation of having to show my injuries to resort staff (person who took my statement) and also to the emergency room staff? It just seems to me that I should be able to reasonably expect to enjoy the resort's hot tub without sufferning burn on my ''boys'', endure excrutiating pain, ruined vacation, loss of sleep, etc.

Thanks

The questions we ask Red Walker, are pale to what one goes through via depositions and then mediation should a case get to that step, which is the step prior to having a court trial. It takes a minimum of 6 months to even get on the court docket here FL.

With that said, I agree with SJ and ecmst (except for determining that the resort seemed negligent which has yet to be determined). Security personnel are not pool/hot tub experts. There was no reason to show your private parts to any hotel personnel. You didn't mention even showering off after getting out of the hot tub or pool.

Without sustaining permanent injuries, there's no lotto here, Red. Are you still receiving medical care? Did you use your employer's medical insurance at the hospital? If so, you'll have to pay back your insurance company with any settlement monies.

It's a really bad idea to wear good, especially new, swimsuits in hot tubs. Over at the Taj Mahal (aka temporary living quarters), there was a brief time when the ladies were complaining about the hot tub discoloring their swimsuits. Once I get a swimsuit off, it immediately is soaked in cold water with very gentle soap while I shower. When done showering, my swimsuit is rinsed in cold water and hung on a towel rack to dry. My suit wasn't discolored when all the other ladies were complaining about their suits. Unless the heater is turned down, hot tubs do feel hotter at night.

Temporary pain is much different than permanent pain. It's not that we don't empathize with you RW, it's just that a lot of posters come here with the idea that they'll be getting a huge payoff. I hope that you're offered a reasonable sum that will cover your expenses.

Most insurance company defense lawyers get paid by the hour and just love to drag out cases. Oh, just curious, how did you find the attorney you hired?