If a person has been in a serious accident, he or she can suffer from many different types of injuries. Burns are some of the most impactful and can leave the victim with expensive medical bills, lost wages and significant physical pain.
Symptoms and treatment
When a person is burned, his or her tissue is damaged from the heat. Symptoms may vary depending on the degree of the burn and may not develop immediately.
A first-degree burn is considered to be minor. It affects only the outer layer of the skin and can cause pain and redness. A second-degree burn affects the outer layer of skin and the second layer of skin underneath, causing blisters, pain and scarring. A third-degree burn affects the fat layer beneath the skin, leaving the appearance of leathery skin and can cause serious nerve damage.
While minor burns may be cared for at home, it’s important for the burn victim to seek medical care for those that affect his or her hands, feet, major joints or other large parts of the body. This also applies if the burn victim has difficulty breathing or has burns to their airway.
Causes and complications
Many people think that burns only occur when there is a fire or hot liquid. They can also be caused by metal and glass, radiation, electrical currents, chemicals and ultraviolet light. Victims may be more susceptible to these types of injuries in their workplace or as a result of a car accident.
Serious burns can cause complications like infections, loss of fluid and low body temperature. A victim may require surgery or other wound treatment, physical therapy and follow up care, which may be expensive and cause the victim to lose time from work. If a person is burned in a serious accident, there is help available to file a claim for compensation.