Burns From Vehicle Fires After Collisions: Legal Steps for Victims

A car crash is terrifying on its own. But after that first impact, when you realize that you and everyone else are safe, you may breathe a sigh of relief—but that relief may be short-lived. Post-collision vehicle fires can turn an already stressful situation into a life-altering catastrophe that leaves victims with permanent injuries, scars, and disfigurement.

Burn injuries from vehicle fires are some of the most serious secondary injuries that happen after a crash. Victims often require extensive hospital stays and long recovery periods. They may suffer significant emotional trauma as well. In situations like these, it is crucial to have an attorney who fights aggressively on your behalf. Call Martin & Helms to discuss your next steps.

How vehicle fires start after collisions

Vehicle fires are more common than you likely think. However, many people don’t know how or why vehicle fires happen—and that leaves them woefully unprepared when they find themselves trapped in one. Some of the most common causes of post-accident fires include:

• Ruptured fuel lines or tanks are more likely to occur in rear-end collisions than other types of impacts. Since people consider these to be minor collisions, they may not be aware of the risk of combustion.
• Electrical system failure may occur when damaged wires short out and spark.
• Overheated engines and battery packs are a serious risk in electric and hybrid vehicles.
• Flammable fluid leaks involve oil, brake fluid, and transmission fluid that ignite when they touch hot surfaces.

In some cases, the initial crash is serious but survivable—but the fire that follows causes greater harm than the crash itself did. When this happens, victims may be entitled to further compensation because of the severity of their losses.

The severity of burn injuries from vehicle fires

Burn injuries are uniquely painful, and on top of that, they generally require specialized care if a victim wants any shot at a full recovery. Burn injuries can be incredibly expensive to treat long-term, putting victims into even worse financial situations after the financial devastation of a car accident. Potential consequences of vehicle fire burns include:

• First, second, and third-degree burns
• Wound debridement
• Skin graft surgeries
• Infections that can turn into sepsis if not treated quickly enough
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Limited mobility and loss of function
• Psychological trauma, including anxiety related to fires and PTSD

Recovery can take months or years, often involving tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

Insurance challenges after a burn injury

Post-crash fires cause a variety of issues with insurance. Getting fair compensation from an insurance company is already a huge challenge, but when you add in a fire that starts after a collision, you’re facing even more hurdles you have to clear.

First, determining who is liable for the fire is a big issue. If the fire was caused by the crash, the driver who caused the initial collision may be held liable. However, if the collision simply triggered an underlying issue that then caused the fire, liability may also lie with the vehicle manufacturer or the company that created a specific component. As you can imagine, parties on all sides point the finger elsewhere, trying to escape liability and the costs that come with it.

Additionally, insurance companies are known for undervaluing victims’ pain and suffering. They may grudgingly offer compensation for medical expenses and lost wages, but they aren’t going to give you a fair number for pain and suffering unless you force their hand. Fires cause substantial physical pain and mental trauma, and victims deserve fair compensation for these losses.

Legal steps for burn injury victims

The same steps you’d follow after any other collision apply in a collision involving a fire—you must call emergency services, seek medical attention, and gather evidence. However, one of the most important additional steps is to get you and your family to safety. That may mean putting substantial space between you and the vehicle. No property within a vehicle is worth risking your life in a fire. Additionally, it is even more important to seek immediate medical care if you’re injured in a fire. Burns can quickly become infected and lead to sepsis, which puts your life at risk.

Forms of compensation

You may be entitled to compensation for a wide range of losses after a collision, including:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Surgeries and rehab
• Prescription medications
• Lost income and earning capacity
• Emotional distress and psychological pain, including PTSD
• Disfigurement and disability
• Property loss
• Long-term medical needs due to burns

Be prepared to fight hard to get a company to pay you what you are owed. Insurance companies may attempt to blame you, an unrelated third party, or downplay the severity of your injuries. Working with a vehicle fire burn injury lawyer can help you fight for what you are owed.

Injured in a vehicle fire? Let’s talk about your options.

If you’ve been injured in a post-accident fire, the insurance company may already be trying to talk you down to a lowball settlement offer. They may be talking about freak accidents, poor maintenance, or other issues that have nothing to do with your claim. We can help. Call Martin & Helms or contact us online right now to get started.