Burn Injuries Following a Car Accident
Unfortunately, the immediate impact is rarely the only source of danger in a car accident. Flames from burning gasoline, superheated liquids, electrical shorts, and intense friction can cause severe injuries all their own, especially when crashes occur at high speed.
If you sustained severe burn injuries in a Virginia car accident, you may have legal options at your disposal if you can prove that someone else was responsible for your losses. After seeking appropriate medical care, speak with a qualified attorney from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers. We can help you with recovering damages and preparing a claim that holds the negligent party accountable.
How Do Car Accidents Cause Severe Burns?
Modern passenger vehicles are immensely complex machines that require cooperation between multiple combustion-based and electrical systems to function properly. Unfortunately, this means that in the event of a collision, the risk of drivers and passengers suffering severe burns can be extraordinarily high.
Depending on the individual vehicle, a head-on or rear-end collision may create a rupture in the vehicle’s fuel line or tank. When dangerous liquids and fumes leak out onto the roadway, a single spark could cause an explosion. Similarly, even chemicals that do not ignite can still be extremely hot, meaning that a spray of oil or gasoline can lead to serious burns without any flame.
Additionally, a car’s electronic components could short out after a crash, leaving people inside the vehicle in danger of exposed wires and battery acid. A burn injury sustained from any of these sources could serve as grounds for a car accident lawsuit in Virginia or another location in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Types of Burn Injuries
Medical professionals classify burns by degrees, with higher degrees indicating more significant damage. Any degree of burn injury following an auto wreck may serve as the basis for civil litigation, but only if it required the claimant to seek—and pay for—medical attention.
First-Degree Burns
First-degree burns are the mildest type and only affect the outermost layer of the skin. These injuries cause topical redness and sensitivity, and typically heal in less than a week. However, these burns can still be painful and, if widespread enough, may necessitate professional treatment.
Second-Degree Burn
Medical professionals further differentiate second-degree burns into two sub-categories, depending on how far the injury extends through the layers of the skin. Partial-thickness burns take two to three weeks to heal and may result in redness, blisters, and blanching of the affected area. Full-thickness burns penetrate most of the second layer of the skin and may result in decreased sensation and a dry appearance with red or white coloration. These injuries may require a much longer recovery process that result in skin grafts to heal fully.
Third and Fourth-Degree Burns
Any person who suffers a third-degree burn must undergo extensive medical treatment as soon as possible, as these injuries destroy many layers of the skin and may affect muscle tissue and bone. The nerves in the affected area often sustain extensive damage, and the skin may appear black and become susceptible to permanent scarring.
Finally, any burn that destroys significant amounts of muscle tissue and bone may be a fourth-degree burn. If this type of injury is not fatal, it requires intense and prolonged medical care.
Learn More About Burn Injuries from Car Accidents
Worrying about undertaking a civil lawsuit in addition to recovering from a severe burn can be overwhelming for any one person to handle. Instead of taking on both your health and financial future alone, retain professional legal help from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers.
We have experience litigating recovery for individuals who have sustained burn injuries after a car accident. Call today to schedule a free case consultation and find out what may be possible for your case.
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