Burn injuries from car accidents can happen from any car’s electrical, chemical, or heated elements. They may also be due to a hot item in the car or on the road touching your skin. You might also receive substantial burns if your car catches fire.
Car crash burns can be severe. If you are burned in a car accident, you deserve compensation from the at-fault party. Nevada Accident Injury Lawyers works hard on your behalf to seek fair compensation for your damages.
What Causes Car Crash Burns?
A car accident burn can be caused by a variety of factors, including the following:
- Airbag deployment: Airbag deployment may release chemicals such as sodium azide and sodium hydroxide that can burn the skin.
- Car catching fire: Your car or another car involved in the accident may catch fire. This is usually caused by a leak in the fuel tank.
- Contact with hot metal: If a nearby car catches fire, it can cause the metal inside your car to heat up, so it burns your skin.
- Your car’s radiator: A damaged radiator may emit steam that can cause burns.
- Chemicals: Certain vehicles may be carrying chemicals that can explode on impact.
- Exposure to live current: A downed power line may fall on your car exposing you to a live current that can cause burns. You may also end up touching exposed wires or electrical devices in your car that are carrying a current.
- Exposure to debris: It’s possible that hot debris gets into your car and burns your skin.
- Contact with the road: If you are ejected from the vehicle or hit while on a motorcycle, the road may be hot enough to burn your skin. If you skid along the road, the friction may produce a burn.
What Are the Degrees of Car Crash Burns?
Burns can generally be classified as first, second, third, or fourth degree. Here are the differences of each.
- First-degree burn: This will affect the top layer of skin only.
- Second-degree burn: This will go through to the second layer of skin, causing intense pain and blistering.
- Third-degree burn: A third-degree burn will penetrate the skin damaging the tissue, nerves, and blood vessels.
- Fourth-degree burn: This type of burn will go through to the underlying muscle, bone, and connective tissue.
Burns can be further broken down as follows:
- Thermal burns: These are caused by touching something hot, so it damages your skin.
- Electrical burns: Electrical burns occur when you encounter an electric current that passes through your body.
- Scald burns: Scald burns result from hot liquid touching the skin. They can occur in a car accident if the victim encounters hot oil and other automotive fluids.
It can be difficult to tell how bad a burn is in its early stages. That’s why it’s always best to see a medical doctor when a burn occurs during a car accident.
Seeing a doctor promptly will ensure you get the proper care and treatment for your burn. It will also establish the extent of the injury, so you get the compensation you need.
If you wait a few days to get care, the defendant may try to say that a severe burn was caused by something other than the accident. If you see a doctor immediately, they will document the injury tracing it directly to the accident.
Who is Responsible for a Car Crash Burn Accident?
There are many parties that can be responsible for a car crash burn accident, and sometimes more than one party is at fault. These include:
- The other driver: A driver may be driving recklessly or negligently and crash into another vehicle or object, causing car crash burns.
- The city/contractor: The crash may be caused by debris in the road or road damage, such as a pothole. If this is the case, the city may be at fault. Or if the debris was due to nearby construction, the contractor may be to blame.
- The car manufacturer/mechanic: The accident may also be due to faulty parts in the car. If this is the case, the car manufacturer or mechanic may be responsible.
What are Car Crash Burn Treatment Options?
If you see someone that’s been burned in a car accident, it’s important to get help as soon as possible. Please do your best to keep them in one place until help arrives. You can also protect yourself from burns by avoiding touching metal or reaching into a car at accident scenes.
While first-degree burns typically won’t require medical attention, more serious burns can be life-threatening. They may require skin grafts and other types of surgeries. They can lead to permanent scarring and amputation. They can even be fatal.
Several complications may result from car crash burns. These include:
- Infection: The skin is responsible for protecting the body from infections. If it becomes damaged or destroyed by a burn, it increases the risk of infection.
- Septic shock: Burns also increase the chance of an infection spreading to the bloodstream and causing septic shock.
- Other issues: A burn injury can also lead to pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, fluid loss, and emotional damage.
Damages Available for Compensation in Car Crash Burn Accidents
If you were burned in a car crash, you may be eligible to be compensated for:
- Medical expenses (present and future)
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Wrongful death
How to Get Compensation for Car Crash Burns in Nevada
Car crash burns can significantly impact quality of life. You deserve compensation if you were burned in a car crash due to someone else’s negligent driving. NAIL advocates for victims like you who want justice delivered.
NAIL is known for our high level of service and results in our clients’ favor. We have years of experience dealing with personal injury law. We will fight aggressively on your behalf.
A car crash is a traumatic experience. Don’t let at-fault drivers get away with it. Contact NAIL to get the justice you deserve.