Most people associate car accident injuries with broken bones and whiplash, but burns are more common than many realize. A collision can expose vehicle occupants to extreme heat and open flames in a matter of seconds, which can, in turn, result in severe injuries that may require long-term medical treatment.
If you’ve suffered a burn injury in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, Tennessee law allows you to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver. Learning about how these injuries happen and what your claim may involve can help you take the right steps early on.
How Do Burn Injuries Happen in Car Accidents?
Burns can result from several different sources during a collision. The force of a crash alone is often enough to rupture fuel lines and damage a vehicle’s electrical system, creating conditions where fires can happen almost instantly. Some of the most common causes include:
- Contact with superheated engine components and scalding fluids from the radiator
- Chemical burns from leaking battery acid and other corrosive automotive fluids
- Electrical fires caused by damaged wiring and ruptured batteries
- Friction burns from skin sliding across pavement and rough interior surfaces
- Fuel leaks that ignite from sparks created by the impact
- Airbag deployment that generates extreme heat on contact with skin
The severity of these injuries depends on things like the type of burn in question and how quickly the victim received medical attention after the accident. In many cases, burn victims face not only physical pain but lasting emotional trauma as well.
What Are the Different Degrees of Burn Injuries?
Burn injuries are classified by degree based on how deeply they penetrate the skin and underlying tissue:
- First-degree burns affect only the outer layer of skin and typically heal on their own without scarring
- Second-degree burns reach deeper layers and often cause blistering and scarring that can last for months
- Third-degree burns destroy all layers of skin and may damage muscle and tissue beneath the surface, almost always requiring surgery and skin grafts
- Fourth-degree burns are the most catastrophic, extending into muscle and bone, and frequently result in amputation or permanent disability
Burn injury claims tend to carry significant value for both economic and non-economic damages, due in large part to the serious impact this type of harm can have on a victim’s life going forward.
Schedule a Free Consultation if You Suffered Burn Injuries in a Tennessee Car Accident
A burn injury stemming from a car accident often requires a level of medical care that goes far beyond what most people are prepared for financially. If another driver’s negligence put you in that position, Woodard Injury Law is here to help you pursue the compensation you need to cover your treatment and move forward with your life.
Contact us today at (615) 640-3648 to schedule a free consultation. We have 19 years of experience fighting for car accident victims across Tennessee and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients to date.