It’s not uncommon to suffer a severe burn injury following a car accident, especially if you’re exposed to chemicals, open flames, or electrical trouble from the crash. The severity of the burns sustained from car accidents ranges from mild to severe, with different recovery periods for each case. Some burns heal quickly with little medical attention, and others may call for lifelong medical treatment and in some cases permanent damage/disfigurement.
How Do Car Accident Burns Occur?
Your skin is composed of multiple layers of protective tissue. When these layers come into contact with extreme heat, electricity, or harmful chemicals, the layers burn. These burns are categorized based on their severity:
-
First-degree burns are the mildest burn, and only damage the outermost layer of your skin.
-
Second-degree burns reach the second layer of skin and may cause additional damage such as swelling, blisters, and extreme pain.
-
Third-degree burns damage all layers of the skin as well as nerve endings
It is important to note that regardless of the level of severity of your burn, you should seek medical treatment following an accident, as burns do not immediately develop. Meaning they take time to fully form and are often much more severe than injured victims initially realize.
Car accidents may cause burn injuries through:
-
The vehicle catching fire
-
Dangerous chemicals spilling due to vehicle damage
-
Electrical problems
-
Skin contact with hot metal
I Was Burned in a car accident, Now What?
As stated earlier, it is very important to make sure that seeking medical attention is your first priority following an auto accident, regardless of the severity of your injuries. By not seeking medical attention ASAP, you are quite literally, playing with fire. The negative repercussions of letting your burn go untreated may last a lifetime.
Recovery
At Stewart Law Firm, we have seen the importance that medical treatment plays in the recovery process of our burn victims. Burn injuries are life-threatening in some cases and life-altering in many. While they are often not fatal, the complications accompanied by a burn often hinder an individual’s ability to return to their normal duties, such as work or hobbies.
Medical treatment will be required for many burn injuries, and the level of treatment will be dependant on the severity of your burn. Severe burns may require skin grafts in addition to other surgeries, such as reconstructive surgery. Many survivors will also experience emotional pain that will require comprehensive therapy, such as:
-
Depression
-
Anxiety
-
PTSD
With this pain, both physical and emotional, the thought of having to pay your constantly growing pile of medical bills is the last thing you want to worry about, especially when you’re missing time from work—as it will undoubtedly make the recovery process harder.
How Can The Stewart Law Firm Help?
While your pain and suffering should be undeniable following a burn injury, the unfortunate truth is that many times insurance companies often don’t factor them into your settlement offer. As any business does, they are trying to save money where they can. Never accept a settlement before speaking with a personal injury attorney.
it’s imperative for your recovery to speak with a qualified Texas personal injury attorney, as they will be able to assist you in pursuing the compensation you deserve. Our team of staunch personal injury attorneys has been helping our clients receive what they deserve for many years. We will be able to help you understand the full value of your claim, and fight to help make sure that happens.
Call us today (512)271-5112 to schedule your free case evaluation, and learn how we can help you get back to the life you love.
