If you are burned in an accident, you will likely never forget the pain you felt in the moment. Even more likely, it will cause you pain long after you’ve sought treatment for your injuries.
Burn injuries are painful, and they leave behind physical and mental scars. Here’s a look at the most common accidents that lead to burn injuries.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
When cars crash, the impact can cause sparks that make the gasoline ignite and cause one or both vehicles to burst into flames. It’s even more of a problem with large trucks, especially those hauling flammable materials. Your vehicle could be engulfed in seconds, leading to serious burns.
Defective Products
Some dangerous products can spark or overheat. They can even start a fire that leads to burn injuries. Often, this occurs with products that use batteries or require combustible fuel sources.
Building Fires
Apartment buildings and hotels can quickly go up in flames when there’s a fire. Whether it’s due to an electrical problem in the building or another resident’s negligence, fires can trap others in the building and cause horrific injuries.
Gas Explosions
Anyone who uses gas in their home could face the danger of an explosion. Many pipelines are old and can rupture. In other scenarios, propane tanks, gas furnaces for water heaters, and other natural gas sources can be a significant danger.
Chemical Accidents
Chemical accidents can cause painful burns at home or in a workplace setting. Mixing the wrong cleaning products, pool chemicals, or other items is often the cause.
Electrocutions
Electrical burns are common in certain work settings, such as construction sites. Exposed wires are a risk, plus thermal contact burns are also possible.
Degrees of Burns in Burn Accidents
Burn injuries are categorized by severity as well as the depth of injury. Here’s a look at these categories and what they mean for burn victims.
First-Degree Burns
While a first-degree burn is likely to cause some slight pain, it only affects the outer layer of the skin. It’s mostly minor, causing red, non-blistered skin. A first-degree burn is treatable, and most will recover without any trouble.
Second-Degree Burns
Second-degree burns are much more severe. This type of burn involves both the epidermis and dermis and can be incredibly painful.
Third-Degree Burns
Third-degree burns will damage multiple layers of the skin, causing it to become leathery and whitish.
Fourth-Degree Burns
Deep, full-thickness burns are fourth-degree burns. These go so deep that they damage bones and tendons below the skin. A fourth-degree burn is gravely serious, and often, victims do not survive these types of injuries.
Beyond the Skin: What Burn Injuries Mean for You
Burn injuries are among the most painful, and they can leave you experiencing psychological effects for years. Burn victims often suffer life-long consequences of their injuries.
You may no longer be able to do the things you once enjoyed doing. You may get stares from people everywhere you go because of your permanent scars. On top of this suffering, you’re going to wind up with expensive medical bills for your treatments.
A burn injury attorney can make sure you don’t go into debt after someone’s negligent acts caused your burn injuries. With their help, you’ll be able to recover financial losses and be covered for your future medical treatments and your mental anguish. Burn injury cases are complex but you will get the best outcome with experienced legal representation.
