Car Accidents can Cause Severe Burn Injuries 

It’s not very pleasant to think about, but it is a fact of life that some very serious injuries can result from motor vehicle accidents where fires are involved. Anyone who has been trapped in a vehicle while it’s burning can suffer some very serious injuries which not only cause a great deal of physical pain and suffering but emotional trauma as well.

These are also the kinds of injuries which do not heal quickly, especially when scarring or major disfigurement have occurred. These kinds of injuries often call for ongoing care and often require plastic surgery, which commonly must be repeated several times in the most serious cases. All of this can result in tremendous medical costs for all the surgeries and treatments, as well as for what is likely to be an extensive period of rehabilitation.

If you or anyone you know has ever been involved in a motor vehicle accident which resulted in serious burns, and that accident was due to another driver’s negligence or carelessness, you might be entitled to compensation under Alabama law. A skilled and experienced attorney might be able to secure compensation for all of your medical bills, lost wages due to missed work, pain and suffering, and even disability and disfigurement. If you happen to be involved in such an accident, the first thing you should do is contact Chip Nix, Attorney-at-Law, for a free consultation to determine whether or not you may have a claim.

Kinds of auto accident burns

Burns resulting from auto accidents can vary in terms of their severity, beginning with mild burns, all the way up to those which are fatal. The level of severity in these cases is determined by the type of damage they do to skin, as well as the amount of that damage.

• First-degree burns– this is the mildest form of burns to the skin since only the outer layer of skin is damaged. Such burns are generally painful and usually appear red, but within a few days, they generally heal up fairly well, so that hospitalization is not necessary. These kinds of burns are roughly equivalent to a moderate sunburn which does not produce blisters.
• Second-degree burns– there are two categories of second-degree burns, one of which includes partial thickness and the other which relates to full thickness. Partial thickness burns sometimes have blisters, and they are characterized by damage to the outer layer of skin, as well as the dermis layer beneath that outer layer. These generally appear pink or red and seem to be moist. Skin grafts are not usually necessary for these kinds of burns since they will most often heal on their own within a few weeks. A burn which is categorized as full thickness is characterized by the destruction of the outer layer of skin, and most of the dermis layer underneath. These burns look red or white and have a dry appearance. They tend to be extremely painful burns and very often require skin grafts.
• Third-degree burns– these are extremely serious burns which typically involve the destruction of all layers of skin. They look black or white and often have a leathery appearance, with scarring most likely being very severe.

How fires occur in auto accidents

It’s fairly common when two or more vehicles collide, for the impact to cause the fuel tank on at least one of the vehicles to be burst open. This can also happen to a single vehicle which collides with a stationary object at high speed. When fuel begins to leak, it can easily be ignited and cause an explosion or fire which results in extremely serious injuries, and sometimes fatalities. It’s also possible that a fire could start in the engine itself after it has become damaged in a crash.

In any of these scenarios, when people are trapped inside while a fire is in progress, some very serious and painful burns can be the result. If you ever have to endure this kind of horrifying experience, you will want to be fully compensated for all the pain and suffering you have to endure, as well as the seemingly endless medical bills that will be piling up very quickly.

Hiring a skilled and experienced Alabama Auto Accident Injury Attorney

As with any injury case, it is important to hire an experienced Alabama auto accident injury attorney, but with auto accidents involving burn injuries, it is even more imperative.  A fire, after a car accident, could be the result of a faulty component and could require additional investigation.  The auto accident injury attorney at Chip Nix, Attorney at Law, has established relationships with experts that have the knowledge and understanding of vehicle systems necessary to determine if a product failure was in part responsible for your burn injuries.

Having a skilled, knowledgeable and aggressive auto accident attorney represent you is the surest way to determine if someone’s negligence has caused the accident, and whether or not you will recover the damages you deserve.  Contact the experienced Alabama personal injury attorney, Chip Nix, Attorney at Law, to begin building your case and start down the path to recovery.  We can be reached at (334) 279-7770 or contact us online.