There are more than a quarter million car fires each year, and many result in serious injury.
Car accidents can cause a variety of injuries. The laws of physics are often unforgiving when they are applied to heavy vehicles moving at high speed. One of the biggest dangers in an accident is fire. One spark can ignite gallons of gasoline creating a perilous and sometimes deadly situation.
In a major study into vehicle fires, between 2003 and 2007, there were an average of 287,000 vehicle fires each year. These fires killed roughly 480 people per year and caused more than 1,500 injuries.
Accident victims who suffer first and second degree car accident burns are often the lucky ones. Victims who suffer third degree burns can often be facing a lifetime of care for injuries that may never fully heal. Third degree burns can result in can result in the amputation of damaged limbs, breathing problems, and loss of muscle and skin flexibility.
There can be other less-recognized effects of car accident burns that can require long term therapy:
- Higher risk of heat stroke— burns can damage the body’s cooling system or sweat glands;
- Pigment changes— this can make victims more vulnerable to sunburn;
- Less sensitivity to touch and temperature— light changes to temperature and the sensation of touch can be inhibited;
- Itching skin—sebaceous glands that create oils and lubricate the skin can often be damaged or destroyed.
Because of the severity of car accident burn injuries, victims may require several types of treatments like skin grafts, removal of damaged tissue, and a variety of ointments to help aid in improving skin elasticity.
At the Showard Law Firm, we have Tucson personal injury lawyers who understand the enormous impacts of car accident burns. Long term medical care is often costly, and seeking help with medical mills can be difficult. We can help victims seek justice and seek the compensation they need to care for their injuries.
