As we all know, sunburns are very painful. However, as painful as sunburn can be, sunburns are minor in comparison to the pain and tissue damage that serious burns cause. Severe burns caused in motor vehicle accidents can penetrate all layers of skin and damage muscle tissue and bones. Burns caused in motor vehicle accidents can require expensive and painful skin graft surgeries to repair the damage rendered by a car fire.
The Severity of Car Accident-Related Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are classified by degrees. First-degree burns are the most inconsequential type of burns and usually do not require medical treatment beyond first aid. However, third-degree burns almost always require emergency medical attention and can be life-threatening injuries.
First-Degree Burns – 1st-degree burns are minor burns that usually do not require emergency room treatment. These burns can be painful to the touch and are red. Only the outer skin layers are affected. The best way to treat a first-degree burn is by cooling the skin and keeping the affected skin dry. The patient can take over-the-counter pain medication for pain and cover the wound with skin ointments such as those containing aloe vera gel.
Second-Degree Burns – 2nd-degree burns are burns that penetrate deeper into the skin but do not muscle or bone. The skin will appear red, blistered, and swollen. These burns are very painful. Emergency medical treatment is not required unless the patient has second-degree burns that cover more than 50 percent of their body or the burns are located on the victim’s face or other sensitive areas. Medical treatment consists of burn cremes and making sure the burned skin is dry. The risk of infection is high after the burn blisters burst.
Third-Degree Burns – 3rd-degree burns are the most severe type of burn and can be life-threatening. These burns affect all layers of skin, muscle tissue, and bone. Third-degree burns often appear charred or white. The amount of nerve damage is severe enough that patients may not feel pain in some areas. Third-degree burns are a medical emergency and burn victims must be transported to the hospital or burn treatment facility as soon as possible. Patients who have sustained a third-degree burn will require skin grafts and other surgical procedures to repair the tissue damage and reduce the chances that the patient will lose the ability to use their burned arms, hands, legs, or feet.
As with other types of injuries, the quick the burn victim receives medical attention, the better the outcome will be for the burn victim. Complications like shock will set in quickly if these burns are not treated quickly and appropriately.
Burns injuries in car accidents can be caused by:
- Chemicals such as caustic compounds and acids,
- Freezing temperatures, such as being injured or knocked unconscious in freezing temperatures,
- Fire from EV battery fires or ignited gasoline leaks,
- Radiation from the sun, and
- Electrical shock burns.
When someone sustains a burn due to the negligence of another driver or a defective motor vehicle part, that person will experience a tremendous amount of pain. The burn victim may not be able to use the injured body part for weeks or months as the injury heals. This can cause the injury victim to miss a substantial amount of work. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident caused by another’s negligence, contact Parker Waichman LLP for your free consultation and case review.
Although Parker Waichman LLP cannot reverse the damage caused by an auto accident, our law firm is here to help burn injury victims recover economic compensation so they can receive the medical care they need to move forward with their lives. Financial compensation may also be pursued for lost wages, medical expenses, property damages, and other losses. Contact Parker Waichman LLP to learn what monetary compensation you could receive for your injuries and financial losses.
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