Burn Injuries in Car Accidents

Lawyers Representing Victims on Cape Cod

Generally, car accidents cause internal injuries such as fractures and muscle strain. While burn injuries rarely occur in car accidents, when they do arise, they are often life-altering. Typically, numerous factors will combine to cause burn injuries in car accidents, such as careless driving and unsafe vehicles, and people who sustain injuries in such collisions may be able to pursue claims against multiple parties. If you or someone you love sustained burns in an accident, it is advisable to speak to a lawyer to discuss your potential claims for damages. The Cape Cod car accident attorneys of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are mindful of the devastating effects of burn injuries, and we will advocate tirelessly on your behalf to help you seek a just result. Collectively, we have more than fifteen decades of experience aiding injured parties in the pursuit of damages, and our dedicated representation has allowed us to recover many multi-million dollar damages awards for our clients.

Causes of Burn Injuries in Car Accidents

Many of the burns sustained in car accidents are caused by fires that occur when gasoline leaks from a vehicle and ignites. Burns can also be caused by explosions, which can be caused by high impact and head-on collisions, and hot liquids that seep out of a car’s engine. People involved in car crashes often suffer chemical burns as well, due to substances released when airbags deploy. In some instances, a burn can occur when a collision causes downed electrical wires.

Burns range in degrees from first, which is a relatively mild superficial burn, to fourth, which affects not only all layers of the skin but also the underlying tissue and bones. While first-degree burns often resolve without treatment, second, third, and fourth-degree burns often require surgery and skin grafts. They also usually lead to extreme disfigurement and nerve damage and require the amputation of extremities.

Claims Arising Out of Car Accidents that Cause Burn Injuries

People who sustain burn injuries in car accidents frequently require lifelong treatment and can no longer work or enjoy the normal activities of daily life. Thus, they often seek damages from the parties responsible for the collision to offset their catastrophic losses. In order to recover compensation, an injured party must first prove liability.

While the exact claims a plaintiff will assert will vary depending on the facts surrounding the accident, many plaintiffs in car accident cases set forth negligence claims against a driver involved in the accident. In Massachusetts, proving negligence requires a plaintiff to demonstrate that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty to act with reasonable care under the circumstances and that the defendant’s behavior constituted a breach of the duty owed. The plaintiff must also prove that the breach led to the plaintiff’s harm and that the plaintiff suffered actual damages.

In addition to negligence claims, some plaintiffs suffering from burn injuries may be able to pursue product liability claims from the entities that manufactured or distributed one or more cars involved in the crash. Essentially, a product liability claim argues that a product such as a car suffered from a defect that rendered it unreasonably dangerous and that the plaintiff suffered harm because of the defect. A car may be defective due to a flaw in the design or an error in the manufacturing process.

A plaintiff that demonstrates a defendant’s liability may be awarded the cost of any past and future medical treatment and compensation for lost earnings. Juries often grant plaintiffs who suffered burn injuries substantial damages for the pain, mental anguish and suffering they endured due to their harm as well.

Speak to an Attorney on Cape Cod

Burns can impact every aspect of a person’s life and often lead to extreme physical, emotional, and financial losses. If you sustained burns in an accident caused by another party’s careless behavior, you should speak to a lawyer about your rights. At The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, our trusted attorneys are adept at helping injured parties pursue compensation for their damages, and we will work tirelessly to help you seek a successful outcome. Our lawyers have a history of recovering favorable results, including numerous damages awards exceeding one million dollars. We represent people in car accident cases on Cape Cod and can meet for consultations in Hyannis and in Plymouth. You can reach us via our online form or at 888-262-6664 to schedule a conference. Nós Falamos Português.