The effects of a car accident can be significant, sometimes leaving North Carolina victims with injuries that may have a permanent or debilitating effect on their lives. Serious car accidents may leave vehicle occupants with burns of varying degrees, something that can require extensive medical care and long-term treatment. Road rash, also called friction burns, are common accident-related burns, but a crash can result in different types of burns as well.
How do crash-related burns happen?
Auto accidents are chaotic and unpredictable events. In the moments of a crash, a wide range of events can happen that could leave someone inside a vehicle with different types and degrees of burns. Hot liquids from the car’s system could be sprayed, skin can encounter a hot surface, gasoline could start a fire, a vehicle occupant could slide across asphalt and more.
Burns can range from first-degree to fifth degree, with first-degree only affecting the outer surface of the skin. Fifth-degree burns are the most severe, impacting muscle and deeper parts of the body. Third-degree burns and higher are medical emergencies, and they require immediate attention from medical professionals.
Recovery from burns
Recovery from severe burn injuries can be a painful and complicated process. North Carolina car accident victims who are suffering after a crash will benefit from seeking guidance regarding their legal options. If the burn injuries are the result of the reckless or negligent actions of another person, a civil claim against the responsible party may be an appropriate course of action.