Car crashes can cause a number of different injuries, but one kind of injury that isn’t discussed often is a burn. Burns are possible during car crashes. A car might catch on fire, or a chemical could spill into the vehicle as a result of the collision. There are many ways that fires can occur, and those fires can lead to burn injuries that have the potential to be life-threatening or deadly.
There are several degrees of burns that can affect a person, but the most significant are third-degree burns. These are also known as full-thickness burns. They affect everything from the skin down to the bone. Third-degree burns may leave a victim with white or blacked skin. Ironically, the severity of this burn means that the victim may feel little or no pain at all.
What are the symptoms of a third-degree burn?
With a third-degree burn, a patient may have symptoms such as:
- Dry and leathery skin
- Swelling
- A lack of pain despite an obvious injury
- Black, yellow, brown or white skin
You should know that full-thickness burns usually heal poorly without medical intervention. The hair follicles and epidermis are both destroyed with this kind of burn, which means that new skin will not grow. Patients may need to go through skin grafting to have the area patched.
If you have suffered a third-degree burn in a car crash, you can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver. Don’t be scared to speak up and ask for compensation if their actions led to your severe injury and need for hospitalization.
