Burn injuries are a surprisingly common car accident injury. Although not as common as whiplash and fractures, burns can leave much longer-lasting scars and are expensive to treat. When they cover a large portion of the body, burns can turn deadly.
Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., can help motorists injured in a car wreck. If you suffered a burn, please call us to talk with a Des Moines car accident lawyer. Our consultations are free, and we can visit you from one of our offices in Waterloo and Des Moines, if circumstances allow.
Why Burns Are So Devastating
Burns are in some ways more serious than other injuries, primarily because of complications:
- Infections. Burns often become infected, and untreated infections can turn into sepsis and septic shock.
- Amputations. Serious burns can destroy tissue down to the bone, leaving doctors with no choice but to amputate a limb.
- Scarring. When burns heal, they can leave behind thick scars which are disfiguring. A person with burns on their face, neck, or arms could experience depression or social withdrawal.
Never assume a burn is too “minor” to warrant medical attention. Go to the doctor and look for common signs of infection, including pus drainage or shooting red streaks.
How Car Accidents Cause Burns
Motorists can suffer burns in various ways during accidents:
- Vehicle fires. Gasoline is flammable and can catch fire when the fuel tank is punctured or the fuel line ruptures. A fire can ignite quickly, trapping passengers in the vehicle. Even someone who successfully escapes can suffer major burns on their limbs.
- Chemicals or gases. A motorist might be burned when hot gases are released during airbag deployment. Rapid deployment can burn a person’s face or hands.
- Metal. A major car accident could destroy the front of the car, throwing the engine into the passenger compartment, where motorists are burned by hot metal. If a car catches on fire, then any component of the car might be hot to the touch.
- Chemical burns. Battery acid and other fluids could be thrown in a motorist’s face when the battery ruptures.
- Electrical burns. The risk of an electrical burn increases in a hybrid or Electric Vehicle (EV). The lithium batteries are at risk of overheating, which can lead to a thermal burn.
Burn Severity
Any burn warrants close monitoring. However, the treatment and complications you likely encounter depend on the severity:
- First Degree Burn. This is the most superficial burn, affecting the outermost layer of skin. You can experience pain, redness, and possible swelling after contact. Although a first-degree burn is uncomfortable, victims usually only need pain medication and rest to allow the skin to heal.
- Second Degree Burn. This burn damages the outermost and underlying layers of skin. A second-degree burn may blister and can result in scars. Treatment will depend on the area affected. Some patients need skin grafts, while others will wait for the burn to heal on its own.
- Third Degree Burn. This burn goes through all layers of skin and can damage tissue underneath, such as nerves and muscles. A patient will likely need surgery to remove damaged tissue and grafts to close the wound.
- Fourth Degree Burn. The most serious burn, a fourth-degree burn can damage the tissue all the way to the bone, leaving the limb white or charred. Affected limbs will probably need to be amputated.
Who is Liable for Your Burn?
As with other injuries, the key issue is liability or fault for the crash. Imagine if you are driving out of control and drive into a ditch, causing your fuel line to rupture. A fire breaks out, and you suffer horrifying third-degree burns on your arms.
Although you have suffered terrible injuries, you probably can’t sue anyone. After all, you were driving out of control, so the accident is your fault.
Most accidents involve at least two vehicles, and there is always a question of whether either one is to blame for the crash. Typically, each driver blames the other, so we need to look at other evidence.
Let our firm analyze whether you can submit an injury claim on another driver’s liability insurance. If a motorist was driving dangerously—speeding or driving while distracted—then we might file a claim against them. In other situations, a defect with the car could lead to a fire or burn. For example, a defective airbag system could expel hot gases which burn your face.
Compensation for Burn Injuries
Burn victims have many expenses because these are disruptive injuries. Our firm will typically demand fair compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include the cost of medical care, surgery, stays in the Intensive Care Unit, rehab, and pain medication. The cost of care will vary depending on the burn. However, one study found that small burns typically cost $62,000 to $122,000 per patient in medical care.
Other economic damages include lost income. A person who is struggling with a serious burn probably cannot work. They need months of rest and rehabilitation. An amputee might never return to their old job, even when they reach maximum improvement. We have sought lost income and loss of earning capacity damages.
Accident victims typically request compensation for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. Burns often result in disfigurement, which can devastate a person’s sense of self. Many burn victims report feeling hopeless about the future and experience stress in familial relationships.
Our firm can review how much to request in compensation for a burn injury. We can negotiate on behalf of our clients to ensure they do not accept too little.
Contact Our Office for Help with a Burn Injury
sees too many car accidents, leaving motorists and passengers with horrifying pain. Call Ball, Kirk & Holm to schedule a meeting with an experienced, passionate car accident lawyer. Our firm has hundreds of enthusiastic clients who can attest to our commitment to every one of the cases we accept. Contact us to schedule your free consultation. We are always available around the clock for our clients.