Car Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Burn Injuries

 Posted on October 27, 2022 in Car Accidents

Most people know that car accidents can cause serious injuries of all kinds, but not everyone realizes that many of the most severe burn incidents happen because of car accidents as well. And while the survival rate for burn victims is high, life quality after a severe burn can be seriously impacted by the pain, recovery, and medical expense of treating burns. 

Car accidents can result in many different burn severities, but when someone is trapped inside a burning car, the damage to their body can be life-threatening and even fatal. When such a car accident is caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, those injured by burns may be able to recover compensation with the help of an Illinois personal injury lawyer. 

How Do People Get Burned in Car Accidents? 

Vehicles can catch on fire for several reasons following a car accident. The most common cause of a fire is when a spark causes spilled gasoline to ignite, causing an explosion that quickly engulfs the rest of the car. Other causes include defective gas tanks, contact with live wires from downed utility lines, or fires from other vehicles. 

However, explosions and large fires are not the only things that can cause burns in a car accident. Other causes include: 

• Hot debris flying through the vehicle or the air

• Contact with a live electrical wire 

• Airbag deployment

• Burns from steam, oil, or other hot liquids 

• Chemical burns 

How Are Severe Burn Injuries Treated? 

Serious burns require urgent medical attention, sometimes at specialized medical centers. Immediate treatment involves removing the injured person’s clothing, stopping any hemorrhaging, removing dead tissue, and preventing infection. 

Once the immediate threat to life has passed, burn injuries often require extensive medical treatment to heal. Skin grafts, surgeries, and physical therapy may take months or even years to allow a patient to fully recover and can cost hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. Sometimes a full recovery is not possible and injured persons are left with scarring, malformation, limb loss, and permanent nerve damage. 

If this has happened to you, it is imperative that you meet with an experienced car accident injury attorney to determine whether someone else is responsible for your burn injuries. You may be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering, permanent scarring, lost wages, and more. 

Meet with a Winnebago County Car Accident Injury Lawyer

If you or a family member were seriously burned in a car accident, schedule a free consultation with a Rockford, IL car accident attorney with Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois. We know how severe burns from car accidents can be and we believe you deserve the compensation to which you are entitled. Call 815-215-7561 today to get started. 

Source: 

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-the-management-of-the-severely-burned-patient