Burn injuries can continue to worsen without treatment.
Police Chase Ends in Fiery Crash, 5 Suspects Detained
According to a KSAT News report, a police chase ended in a fiery accident on the West Side of San Antonio yesterday.
Police reported the incident occurred near Loop 1604 and Shanefeild in the 10500 block of Rhyder Ridge at 2:15 a.m. on March 27th. A patrol vehicle attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle, but they refused to pull over. A passenger then branded a firearm, which started the police pursuit. The chase continued until the vehicle crashed at US Highway 90 and Military Drive West on the West Side. The car then caught on fire, and police removed all 5 occupants. They were detained, and no injuries were reported.
Did You Know?
Roughly 250,000 people per year are treated in hospitals for burn injuries from car accidents.
Burn Injuries and Car Accidents: What You Need to Know
When you think of car accident injuries, burns probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. But there are actually many different ways you can be seriously burned in a car accident that you may never have thought about.
Burn injuries are no joke — they can cause permanent disfigurement and leave victims with lifelong scarring and emotional trauma. Let’s take a look at the different types and severity of burn injuries you could sustain in a Texas car accident and how an attorney can help you.
Types of Auto Accident Burn Injuries
Car fires aren’t the only way you could burned in an auto accident, nor are they the most common way people are burned. People are more commonly burned in auto accidents by:
- Explosion Burns — Lithium-ion batteries and airbags can malfunction and explode in a car accident. Airbags can release an aerosol of sodium hydroxide during deployment, which can severely burn the person they come in contact with in critical areas like the face.
- Chemical Burns — Many of the chemical fluids that make your vehicle function are toxic when in contact with human skin. Gasoline, battery acid, coolant, oil, and other liquids can cause severe chemical burns.
- Electrical Burns — Modern vehicles heavily rely on electricity to function. If these electrical systems are damaged in an accident, the occupants of the vehicle can suffer severe electrical burns.
- Inhalation Burns — Many chemicals evaporate into gas and can burn the throat, mouth, and lungs when inhaled.
- Thermal Burns — Vehicle surfaces can overheat and cause contact burns.
Burn Injury Severity
After an accident, your body releases adrenaline. This can make it difficult to determine how injured you really are. Even if you don’t think your burn is severe, always go to a doctor for an auto accident burn.
Burns are classified in severity in degrees ranging from 1st to 3rd.
- First-degree burns — Outer layer burns, usually light pink in color.
- Second-degree burns — Reaches the second layer of your skin, usually red, and creates blisters.
- Third-degree burns — Reaches nerve endings, subcutaneous fat, sweat glands, and hair follicles. Brown or black in color, usually numb due to nerve damage. Potentially permanent.
You may be entitled to compensation for a burn injury you sustained in an auto accident. We can help you find out.
Burned in an Auto Accident? Call Carabin Shaw.
Carabin Shaw has represented burn victims across Texas for over 30 years. We’re a trusted name in San Antonio because we put our clients first.
We can help you find out if your burn injury qualifies for legal compensation for free. Call the team that cares for your free case evaluation at 800-862-1260 or use the live chat to get started. We look forward to serving you.