Here at the Law Office of Kerley & Associates, we know the dangers you face when driving on Illinois’ streets, roads, highways and freeways. Motor vehicle accidents happen all too often, and when they do, you could receive catastrophic burns as the result. Per the American Burn Association, 3,275 Americans died following fiery crashes in 2016 alone.
The problem with burns is that many of the things in your car can either catch fire or become so hot that they burn you. In fact, you can suffer the following four kinds of burns:
- Thermal burns when your body contacts either the fire’s flames or an exceedingly hot surface inside your car
- Scald burns when your body contacts one or more of your car’s hot liquids such as gasoline
- Chemical burns when your body contacts one or more of your car’s caustic fluids such as antifreeze, oil, or transmission or steering fluid
- Electrical burns when your body contacts one of your car’s electrical wires or a downed power line
Degrees of burns
In addition to four different types of burns, you also can suffer four different degrees of them. Unfortunately, you likely will not suffer a first- or second-degree burn, the least two serious classifications. The high heat and confined space of a fiery car crash is far more likely to give you a third- or fourth-degree burn, both of which are extremely serious. A third-degree burn not only scorches your skin, but also your underlying organs and tissues. A fourth-degree burn goes even deeper, down to your tendons, nerves and bones. These severe burns threaten your life.
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