Fortunately, fires during car accidents are not very common. However, when fires do occur, the injuries to the victims can be dire and even fatal. According to an article published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in 2020, approximately 212,500 vehicle fires were the cause of 560 deaths, 1,500 injuries, and $1.9 billion in direct damages to property in the United States during the year 2018.
The main causes of these fires in vehicle accidents were mechanical failures, breakdowns, and electrical faults, a situation that gives even greater importance to the timely maintenance of vehicles. As for deaths resulting from these fires, collisions were the leading cause. Commercial trucks have a higher chance of catching fire during a traffic accident and a higher fatality rate.
A car accident can be quite an overwhelming experience, and the body goes into a state of shock that can prevent a person from realizing the severity of their injuries. Different factors can cause burn injuries in car accidents; some of them include:
- Burns from deploying airbags
- Burns from explosions inside the car or nearby vehicles
- Burns from contact with sources of electrical current
- Burns from contact with dangerous chemical substances
Body tissues are damaged by burns resulting from heat, overexposure to the sun or other radiation, contact with chemicals, fuel, etc. The severity of burns can range from minor injuries to life-threatening emergencies, and their treatment depends on the location on the body and the severity of the damage. Some complications that can occur in this type of injury are:
- Fluid loss, including blood loss
- Low body temperature or hypothermia
- Bacterial infections
- Sepsis
- Respiratory problems
If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident in which you were injured by burns, contact us. You could file a personal injury claim, and we will help you get the justice you deserve. Call us today!
