Understanding Burn Injuries from Car Accidents in Durham

If you’ve suffered burns from a car accident, you could be entitled to compensation, and an attorney with Kreger Brodish LLP can help you demand it.

What Are Car Accident Burns?

Car accident burns are exactly what they sound like: damage to the skin and other tissue caused by a motor vehicle accident.

German researchers gathered a representative sample of motor vehicle accident patients and determined that about 0.7 percent had suffered burns.
American researchers have studied post-accident medical care for patients who suffered burn injuries in crashes against similarly injured crash survivors who did not suffer burns. They found that burns lead to more ICU admissions, longer ICU stays, and worse secondary outcomes.
Other research suggests that severe burns complicate emergency care after a serious accident, as they interfere with the effectiveness of CT imaging, the primary diagnostic tool for traumatic injuries.

Types of Burn Injuries from Car Accidents

While many people think of heat sources as the primary cause of burn injuries, they are just one of several types that can result from car accidents.

Burns are typed by the mechanism of injury and include the following:

Thermal burns are caused by direct exposure to heat, flames, fire, hot vehicle surfaces, steam, or heated fluids.
Chemical burns result from contact with corrosive substances released during a crash, such as battery acid or other automotive chemicals.
Electrical burns result from exposure to electrical current from damaged vehicle wiring, electrical systems, or high-voltage components, particularly in electric and hybrid vehicles.
Friction burns, or road rash, result from the skin scraping or sliding against pavement or another rough surface during a collision or ejection.
Airbag burns are skin injuries associated with airbag deployment, which can involve heat, friction, and chemical exposure.
Inhalation burns are injuries to the mouth, throat, or respiratory tract caused by breathing hot air, steam, smoke, or heated gases during a vehicle fire.

In addition to these types, burns are categorized by the extent of resulting damage as follows:

First-degree burns affect only the outermost layer of skin, known as the epidermis. These burns typically cause redness, tenderness, pain, and mild swelling. The skin generally remains intact and does not blister. Minor sunburns are a common example of a first-degree burn.
Second-degree burns extend through the epidermis and into the underlying dermis. They commonly cause redness, swelling, and blistering, and are considerably more painful than first-degree burns. The affected skin may appear moist, shiny, or mottled. The depth and extent of damage to the dermis determine how long a second-degree burn takes to heal and whether it results in permanent scarring.
Third-degree burns damage every layer of the skin and may extend into the tissue beneath it. The affected area can appear white, brown, blackened, charred, dry, or leathery. Third-degree burns can destroy nerves, so the most severely burned area can have reduced sensation or even be painless despite the severity of the injury. Third-degree burns require urgent medical treatment and often require procedures such as skin grafting.

Long-Term Consequences of Burns for Motor Vehicle Accident Victims

Severe motor vehicle-related burn injuries have serious immediate effects.

Patients often need emergency care, including surgeries. Extensive damage increases the risk of infections and other secondary outcomes, such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and deep vein thrombosis.

Burn injuries can also continue to affect a person long after the initial wounds have healed.

Survivors are often left with permanent scarring that can cause ongoing pain and result in physical limitations affecting their ability to find gainful employment, perform everyday tasks, and take part in favorite activities.

Moreover, prominent burns can affect a person’s self-conception and self-esteem, worsening the emotional and psychological consequences of long-term impairment.

When Can a Car Accident Burn Be Grounds for a Legal Claim?

If you suffered burns because of a collision that other people caused, you can pursue car accident claims against those individuals.

Depending on the circumstances, you could have a claim against the following parties:

The driver who hit you
That driver’s employer, if they were performing work-related duties at the time
Other road users who contributed to the accident
Mechanics who performed shoddy repair work and increased the risk of burn injuries
Companies that manufactured defective components that were more likely to catch fire or leak caustic fluid
Government entities and subcontractors who failed to maintain the roadway

The car accident lawyers with Kreger Brodish LLP can work to identify everyone who could be liable for your injuries and hold them financially accountable through legal claims.

Compensation Available for Car Accident Burns in North Carolina

Your car accident claim can potentially recover money for the following losses:

Past and ongoing medical expenses
Lost wages and reduced earning potential if your burn injuries affect your career
Pain and suffering, or the discomfort your injuries cause you
Emotional distress, or the psychological impact of the injuries
Loss of enjoyment of life/permanent scarring and disfigurement

What to Do After Suffering Burns in a Car Accident in Durham

Consider getting prompt medical attention if you were not transported from the scene.
Follow your treatment plan, document your injuries and expenses, and preserve any evidence from the crash.
Report the accident to your insurance provider, but do not get into unnecessary details.
Be especially cautious if the other driver’s insurer contacts you, and decline to provide a recorded statement.
Finally, contact Kreger Brodish LLP for a free, no-obligation consultation with a car accident attorney about your options for pursuing compensation.

How a Durham Car Accident Burn Injury Lawyer Can Help

Kreger Brodish LLP wants to help you if you’ve suffered burn injuries in a car accident that someone else caused. While you focus on treating your injuries, we can do the following:

Investigate the accident to recover evidence proving other parties’ fault
Work with your healthcare providers to understand your ongoing medical needs
Consult vocational and economic experts to project the long-term financial consequences of your burn injuries
Negotiate aggressively with the insurance companies for a fair settlement
Take your case to trial if the insurers won’t make you a reasonable offer
Never charge you a fee unless and until we win your case

We understand what you’re going through after a serious accident because we’ve helped many clients in similar situations, including one who was badly hurt in a head-on collision on Guess Road in Durham.

While past results do not guarantee future outcomes, they illustrate our commitment to getting maximum compensation.

Your case review is fully confidential, and you pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your matter.