What Causes Burn Injuries in Truck Accidents?
April 3, 2024
Severe burn injuries can result in expensive medical bills. The accident victim may require hospitalization in a specialized burn center. Then, they may need continuous care for years, including numerous skin grafts. Since burns result in extensive discomfort and long-term consequences, non-economic damages from a serious burn injury can be significant. If you have been injured in a truck accident, you must know how much your case is worth.
There are various ways that you can suffer burn injuries in a truck accident, including:
- Coming into contact with extremely hot surfaces.
- Cargo and chemicals on the truck igniting.
- A fire caused by the crash.
- Gasoline from either the truck or your vehicle.
What Types of Burn Injuries Are Caused in Truck Accidents?
Truck accident burn injuries can include:
- First-degree burns, which affect the skin’s surface but are usually not extremely serious.
- Second-degree burns that impact the surface of the skin and a layer beneath it can be extremely painful for a prolonged period of time.
- Third-degree burns that affect the innermost layer of skin.
- Fourth-degree burns that damage the muscle, bone, and nerve endings – these types of burns are often fatal.
Serious burns can put an accident victim’s life in jeopardy. They may need immediate life-saving care, which is followed by a lengthy period of rehabilitation and surgical procedures. There could be critical short-term complications, such as infections and respiratory distress. Burn victims may permanently lose the use of particular body parts, along with suffering enduring scarring. Even moderate burns may result in costs exceeding several hundred thousand dollars.
Non-Economic Damages Can Be Significant
Not only are there significant economic costs associated with burn injuries, but you may also suffer extensive non-economic damages. These types of damages pay you for the experience of a burn injury. Burn injuries are incredibly painful, and the discomfort lasts for an extended period of time. Skin grafts can be uncomfortable procedures; you would need many of them. You may also suffer permanent scarring and disfigurement, which can lead to a change in your appearance and embarrassment.
Non-economic damages are usually determined by applying a multiplier to the economic damages. Not only are the economic damages that you suffer high, but burn injuries are considered to be very serious, leading to a higher multiplier. Thus, it would not be uncommon for severe burn injuries to yield settlements or awards of millions of dollars.
Suing the Trucking Company for Your Injuries
When you have been involved in a truck accident, a trucking company is almost always involved. They have the money to pay for your damages because they have a significant insurance policy and the assets necessary to satisfy any judgment. Your truck accident lawyer will determine who was responsible for the accident and gather evidence that could be used to prove liability.
Get Legal Help From a Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton for Your Burn Injury
A Baltimore truck accident lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton is ready and available to help you when you have been injured in a truck accident. Your first step is to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys. Call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Lanham, and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.