Car accidents can lead to a variety of injuries and damages. Some of the most serious but often overlooked injuries that can occur are burns. Burn injuries can cause severe pain, trauma, and long-term complications. Understanding the different types of burn injuries that can be sustained in a car accident is important for prevention and medical treatment. Read on and speak with a skilled Monmouth County car accident attorney for legal advice and representation during your case.
What Are the Different Types of Burn Injuries?
Before understanding the types of burns that can be caused by a car accident, it is important to understand the various types of burn injuries in general. Below are the most widely recognized types of burns.
- Thermal: Thermal burns are some of the most common and result from direct contact with heat sources like flames, hot metals, scalding liquids, etc. This contact raises the skin’s temperature and leaves behind damage to the skin.
- Radiation: Radiation burns are not caused by heat but instead by exposure to radiation sources like the sun’s UV rays or other types of radiation.
- Chemical: Chemical burns occur when the body comes into contact with harsh chemicals like bleach, acid, alkalis, and other damaging substances. These burns can also be internal if the fumes or substance are ingested.
- Electrical: Electrical burns are caused by the flow of electricity through the body. These can occur if an individual is struck by lightning, touches exposed wiring, inserts an object into an outlet, or is near a faulty appliance or other electrical product.
- Friction: Friction burns are a combination of an abrasion or cut and the heat created when a rough surface rubs against the skin. Common examples include road rash or turf burn.
Depending on the type of burn and the extent of the accident, the injury could be categorized as first, second, third, or fourth-degree, in increasing order of severity.
What Types of Burn Injuries Are Sustained in a Car Accident?
For individuals involved in a car accident, understanding the different types of burns they may sustain is crucial in identifying the issue and seeking proper treatment. Car accidents can typically result in thermal, chemical, electrical, or friction burns.
- Thermal burns are the most common during a car accident and can occur if the car catches fire, the victim presses up against a hot piece of metal, etc.
- Chemical burns can occur during serious wrecks if the airbag deploys, the vehicle’s battery leaks, or a coolant or gasoline is exposed during the crash.
- Friction burns often happen during car accidents when the victim’s skin scrapes against a hard surface like the interior of the car or the asphalt of the road.
- While not as common, electrical burns can also happen during a crash. If there is an electrical malfunction with the vehicle or power lines fall as a result of the collision, it could expose victims to electric currents.
To learn more about your legal rights and options after a car accident, reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer today.
