- Car accidents can cause thermal, electrical, friction, and chemical burns
- Explosions during a car accident can cause a thermal burn
- Cooling components can leak during a car accident and overheat metals
- Airbags can explode during a car accident and cause friction and chemical burns
- Chemical burns during a car accident can occur because dangerous chemicals leak from the impact of the collision
Car accident victims can suffer a wide variety of injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, bone fractures, and back and neck injuries. One severe injury that they can suffer that people may not realize is a burn injury. Victims of car accidents can suffer scald, electrical, and chemical injuries that can cause physical pain, blisters, charred and peeling skin, and swelling.
Some causes of burn injuries during a car accident include explosions, heating of metal inside the car, exposure to exposed electrical currents, airbag overinflation, and much more. Burn injuries can cause significant physical symptoms and cause long-term health complications. Victims of car accidents can file claims to pursue compensation for burn injury damages.
What Types of Burn Injuries Can Car Accident Victims Suffer?
Car accidents can cause severe injuries for victims, as people in cars only have so much protection from physical impact. Drivers and passengers can become exposed to harmful impacts that can cause serious car accident injuries. One of the most life-threatening injuries that can result from a car accident is burn injuries.
This is when someone during a car accident becomes exposed to a heat source that can burn the skin. A statistical analysis of car accidents that resulted in fires found that 11% of people exposed to open flames during a car accident can suffer life-threatening impacts. What type of burn injury a car accident victim suffers depends on what heat source they are exposed to.
The following are the burn injuries that can result from a car accident:
- Thermal burn: This burn results from exposure to an open heat source or heated surface.
- Electrical burns: Exposure to an electrical current can cause this type of burn.
- Friction burns: This burn is caused by skin rubbing aggressively against a coarse object.
- Chemical burns: Chemicals, such as oil, battery acid, and transmission fluid, can leak during a car accident, touch someone’s skin, and cause a life-threatening burn.
Car Accident Burn Injuries Caused by Explosions
One of the most disastrous things that can happen during a car accident is an explosion. Debris, shrapnel, and metal can pierce the gas tank and lead to an explosive reaction. An explosion can expose the people inside the car to a flame that can cause a burn injury.
Depending on where the person is situated in the car during the explosion, they can suffer direct exposure to the explosive flame, causing third or fourth-degree burns all over their body. These severe burns can scar someone for life and potentially cause wrongful death.
Car Accidents Can Overheat Metals That Can Cause Burn Injuries
A car accident can damage the cooling components in your car prevent it from overheating. The radiator can receive damage from a direct collision that can cause a leak and prevent it from working properly.
Without cooling components working properly, the metal your car is made out of can overheat. If your body comes into direct contact with overheated metal, you can suffer a thermal burn. This type of car accident injury can expose you to significant pain and can affect the body part’s functionality.
Burn Injuries That Result from Defective Airbags
During a car accident collision, airbags can fire from the front and side of the front seats to cushion the driver and front-seat passenger from physical impact. During a rear-end or head-on collision, the front airbag can stop someone from striking the dashboard. The side airbags can stop someone’s body from hitting the door or window.
However, these airbags may not work properly because of a defect. They can overinflate, which can expose you to burn injury risk. An airbag that blows up too much can rub against your skin and cause a friction burn. It’s also possible for an overinflated airbag to explode because of an issue with the chemical that causes the inflation, leading someone to suffer a chemical burn.
Exposure to Dangerous Chemicals That Can Cause Burn Injuries
Car accident victims can also suffer chemical burns. Dangerous chemicals like oil, antifreeze, and steering fluid can leak due to the impact of a car accident. These dangerous chemicals can come into contact with someone’s body and result in a chemical burn. Those who suffer chemical burns should go to the hospital to prevent life-threatening health consequences.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Car Accident Burn Injury Claim
At The Russo Firm, our car accident lawyers can help you recover compensation for car accident damages. We understand how medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering can affect your life due to a burn injury.
Our experienced car accident attorneys can assess your health and the circumstances that led to your burn injury to help you pursue compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Contact us for a free car accident burn injury consultation today at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Burn Injuries
What are the Degrees of Burn Injuries?
Burn injuries can have different degrees of severity based on what burn they suffered and how much heat they were exposed to. This car accident injury can have minor health complications or be so severe that they have to worry about potential life-threatening consequences.
The following are the four degrees of burn injuries:
- First-degree burn: This is a minor burn that only affects the top layer of skin.
- Second-degree burn: This is a deeper burn that can cause blistering and may require skin grafts for treatment.
- Third-degree burn: The skin can adopt a white, leathery appearance due to the intensity and depth of the burn. It can damage the nerves and cause infections.
- Fourth-degree burn: This life-threatening burn can extend beyond affecting the layers of the skin and damage the bones, tendons, and muscles.
What Health Complications Can Arise from a Car Accident Burn Injury?
Victims of burn injuries can suffer pain and suffering due to the physical symptoms of a burn injury. However, burn injuries can also have long-term health complications that can cause many issues with the way someone’s body operates.
The following are some health complications caused by burn injuries:
- Infections
- Sepsis
- Respiratory issues
- Capillary leak syndrome
- Nerve damage
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Increased risk of diabetes
Why Should You Hire a Car Accident Lawyer After Suffering a Burn Injury?
Those who suffer burn injuries from car accidents should hire car accident lawyers. They have experience they can use to help you through the complicated process of holding the at-fault party accountable for their negligence.
Some ways they can help include damage calculation, explaining your state’s car accident laws, collecting evidence, and negotiating a fair settlement. An experienced, local car accident lawyer’s expertise will give you the best chance of recovering fair compensatory damages.
