Burn Injuries and Car Accidents

KANSAS CITY, MO, April 03, 2013

There are many different types and degrees of burn injuries. Burns can be caused by direct exposure to a flame, natural gas or other explosions, contact with extremely hot objects, exposure to certain chemicals and many other causes. A burn from an accident is referred to as a burn from trauma (a "trauma" being the precipitating event).

Burns from trauma can cause severe disfiguration, extreme pain, blistering of the skin, charred or cooked layers of skin, burnt hair, damaged nose, throat, and lungs from smoke inhalation, and many other crippling or disabling life changing injuries. Burns from trauma are classified in the same way as all burns, by degree (first through third and sometimes fourth-- the higher the degree, the more severe the burn).

Burns from trauma are most often associated with car, truck, or other motor vehicle accidents. Sadly, I am sure many of us can easily think of several salient news stories about victims of traffic accidents who experienced severe burns as a result.

Traffic accidents can easily cause a number of injuries ranging from minor sprains to broken bones, head, neck and back injury, loss of limbs, paralysis and other devastating injuries. The likelihood of a burn injury resulting from a traffic accident is heightened due to the limited mobility while inside a car and the potential for the gas tank to burst into flames.

Though the driver of either your motor vehicle or another one involved in the accident is often to blame for traffic accidents, often a malfunction of one or more of the many moving parts in a car cause the burn, either directly or indirectly. This should serve as a warning to the owners of vehicles to regularly maintain their vehicle, and avoid driving if you are unable to do so. Also, one of the more obvious ways to avoid car accidents is to remain attentive while driving and avoid distractions such as cell phones, T.V.'s, intense heated discussion, and overbearing loud music.