Burn Injuries After a Car Accident

Here we’ll discuss the common types of burn injuries that occur after car accidents, in addition to common complications, treatment plans, and what plaintiffs must do in these types of personal injury cases.

There can be a multitude of injury types when someone is involved in a serious car accident. Injuries commonly include fractures, injuries to the neck and back, muscle injuries, and brain injuries. Burn injuries typically aren’t the first type of car accident injury that people think about, but the truth of the matter is that burns happen all too often in accident scenarios.

Burn injuries can vary dramatically in terms of severity, but severe burn injuries can cause permanent consequences that don’t just affect a victim’s physical health. PTSD and other psychological effects are very common with those who have experienced severe car accidents, and burn injuries tend to magnify this type of emotional trauma.

At Mattiacci Law, our team of personal injury attorneys is firm believers that anyone suffering from a burn injury shouldn’t have to worry about anything else but their recovery while they seek legal recourse for their medical expenses, financial security and peace of mind.

If you or a loved one has suffered from a burn injury of any kind that should have been prevented, contact us for a free consultation so we can go over the facts of your case and begin the initial steps towards your full and fair compensation.

Burn Injuries Statistics

We’re considering the 2016 information from the American Burn Association that gathered information from 2005-2014 for the following alarming statistics:

• The number of burn injuries that received medical treatment came to around 486,000!

• The number of hospitalizations as a result of serious burns was about 40,000

• About 3,250 people die each year from fire or smoke inhalation, which are derived from the vehicle, home and other types of fires

• On average, someone dies in a fire about every three hours

• About 250,000 children each year sustain some kind of serious burn injury

• A lot of injuries are caused by food, drink and appliance scalding

• About 15,000 children are hospitalized each year from burn injuries

• Around 1,100 children die each year from fires or other serious burns

Types of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are one of the most common types of unintentional injuries in the United States each year. Anyone who experiences a burn injury should seek immediate medical attention in order to determine the overall severity of the burn and to properly begin the healing process.

Burn injuries are categorized by the overall size and depth of the burned area, and the common types of burn injuries include the following:

• First degree burns — This is when only the outer layer of the skin is damaged, and these types of burns can typically heal on their own with time.

• Second-degree burns — These burns include both the epidermis and dermis being damaged, which can cause serious pain, swelling and blistering. A common sign of this type of burn is the skin being moist and having white and red splotches.

• Third-degree burns — These burns are extremely severe partly because the burn reaches the innermost layer of the skin, which can lead to the skin appearing blackened or even charred.

• Fourth-degree burns — This is when every layer of the skin is severely damaged, and the bones and muscles are severely damaged as well.

Common Vehicle Fire and Other Burn Injury Causes

There are many cases in which a vehicle will catch on fire after car accidents, which can lead to severe burns for anyone who is trapped inside the car or is nearby. These are very serious situations that must be avoided at all costs, and understanding the following common malfunctions and situations can help you avoid being caught in a vehicle fire:

• Mechanical failure/malfunction
• Electrical failure/malfunction
• Collisions/Overturned vehicles
• Exposure to other fires (ex. wildfires)

In many circumstances, these burns may arise out of another individual’s carelessness or negligence. Some common causes beyond car accidents that produce burn injuries include the following:

• Faulty plumbing or wiring
• Unsafe workplaces
• Poorly installed/maintained smoke alarms in a home
• Flammable fabrics
• Defective products

A lot of burn injuries could be avoided, and in some of the above causes, there could be negligence involved from a power company, landlord, employer, or manufacturer of an unsafe product.

Proving Burn Injury Fault

If you’re involved in a car accident of any type, you should always try to gather as much evidence and information as possible that helps you prove how the other driver was the cause of the collision and your subsequent injuries. It’s important to take pictures if you’re capable of doing so, and getting the witness contact information to help corroborate what really happened.

A police report and your medical records will also prove to be valuable pieces of evidence when it comes to proving negligence in burn injury cases, but of course, ensuring that you receive your full and fair compensation is a lot easier said than done.

But that’s exactly why we’re here to help you, and our track record is a clear indication that we can handle any magnitude of burn injury case and put you in the best position to successfully prove that the at-fault party/entity was the cause of your injuries.

Obtaining Legal Guidance After a Burn Injury Accident

You’re never going to want to simply accept the first settlement that’s offered to you when you’ve suffered injuries of any kind that were caused by someone else’s negligence. As the severity of injuries increases, the more important it is for you to get the proper legal guidance towards obtaining your full and fair compensation for all your damages.

Our team of Philadelphia & New Jersey personal injury lawyers are experts in the field who are closely connected to burn injury specialists and other expert witnesses that can assist you in everything you need to devise the most effective legal strategy possible.

So if you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury of any magnitude, contact us today for a free consultation so we can better understand your accident situation and get you on the right track towards legal recourse.