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The National Safety Council (NSC) announced that the week of February 6 through February 12, 2022, is National Burn Awareness Week. In observance of this week, we are discussing the effects of burns suffered in vehicle accidents and the compensation to which victims may recover.

Approximately 96 percent of people treated in burn centers across the United States will survive. However, the chances are high they will be left with severe scarring or even life-long disabilities that can drastically change their lives, according to the American Burn Association.

WebMD reports burns are classified as first-, second- and third-degree:

First-Degree Burns - This is the least severe type you can get. It damages only the first, or outer, layer of your skin. It may hurt and turn red for a little while, but it’s not serious. These are also called superficial skin burns.

Second-Degree Burns - These burns affect the top two layers of your skin and can cause severe pain. It’s normal to see swelling or a blister. Your skin will be red, white, or blotchy. These types of burns sometimes leave a scar.

Third-Degree Burns - These burns damage your skin to the deepest layer and the tissue below it. The burn may turn black, brown, or white and look leathery. Instead of causing pain, the area might feel numb because a burn this severe can damage your nerves. These injuries leave scars and destroy sweat glands and hair follicles, too.

Car accident burn injuries are common when victims are exposed to heat, toxic chemicals, or electricity in a crash. Although some burns may heal quickly, others may not and require intensive and ongoing medical treatment. They may also cause permanent disfigurement. When treating accident victims, complications are common that can often interfere in a car accident fire victim’s ability to go back to work and to his or her pre-injury lifestyle.

Skin grafts and other surgeries may be needed. Infections and complications can slow an accident victim’s recovery time. Coping with the physical and emotional trauma of burns may also require intensive therapy as medical bills pile up. This may cause a burn accident victim to become anxious and overwhelmed.

Fort Myers Burn Injury Attorney Randall Spivey says, “Each burn injury is different, and we at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys P.A. investigate burn injuries to look for the root cause(s). There are sometimes forces of a collision that cause fire, steam, or hot debris. Even a cigarette can ignite spilled gasoline or chemicals. Defective vehicle parts may explode or cause a fire.”

A vehicle accident burn victim may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, or other damages. A knowledgeable Fort Myers burn injury attorney will be able to assist victims by building a solid case using injury records, along with diagnosis and medical treatment records to increase the odds of receiving a settlement.

Accident victims need to contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. immediately following an accident and seeking medical treatment while the details of the accident are still fresh, and evidence is available. Also, Florida has a statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits. Florida Statutes section 95.11(3)(a) gives accident victims four years, typically starting from the date of the accident or incident, to file a civil lawsuit seeking compensation for another’s negligence. Waiting can mean the difference in the outcome of a personal injury case.

Our Fort Myers burn injury legal team has experience in handling burn injury cases. One example is a multi-million-dollar settlement for a woman who suffered severe burns in a Cape Coral car accident. We provided personal contact and communication along with aggressive representation.

Should you or a loved one suffer a burn in a vehicle accident, please contact Attorney Randall Spivey at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839.