How To Treat Burns Caused By Car And Motorcycle Wrecks In North Carolina?

Key Highlights:

• How to treat burns caused by car and motorcycle wrecks in North Carolina? Steps to follow for treating burns sustained in a car or motorcycle accident in North Carolina include getting to safety, cooling the burn with running water, covering the burned area with a clean, dry dressing, and obtaining medical attention promptly for serious burns.
• The State of North Carolina classifies road rash and burns treatment North Carolina by degrees of severity: first degree burns are limited to the outer layers of skin; second degree burns involve damage to the dermal layers, and third degree burns expose muscle tissue.
• While North Carolina requires the use of helmets while riding a motorcycle, failing to wear a helmet does not automatically preclude any recovery, as contributory negligence only applies when the failure to wear a helmet is the cause of the injury.
• According to the American Burn Association’s guidelines for referral to specialized burn centers, any burn to the face, hands, feet, genitals, or major joints, and any electrical, chemical, or inhalation burn should be treated at a specialized burn center.
• Potential forms of compensation include payments for medical expenses, reconstructive surgery, and skin grafting; lost wages; and compensation for pain and suffering due to scarring and disfigurement.

Get away from danger, cool the burn with clean, running water (if possible), and apply a clean, dry dressing. Don’t use ice; don’t burst blisters; and seek prompt medical attention (within a few hours) if the burn is deep, large, painful, infected, on the face or hand, or from chemicals, fire, hot metal, fuel, or road friction. 

Burns from a crash can appear small when they happen, but may take a few hours to become swollen, blistered, infected, scarred, etc.; therefore, it is important to get the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible after the injury occurs.

I am Robert Tatum, an attorney with Tatum & Atkinson Law Firm. Tatum & Atkinson Law Firm, a veteran-owned law firm, was founded in 2005 and has about 65 years of combined legal experience. It has been helping injured victims to understand burn injuries after car accident NC since 2005, as a direct result of car or motorcycle accidents.

Why Are Burns Common In Car And Motorcycle Wrecks?

In vehicle collisions, burns can occur as a result of the vehicle carrying heat and fuel, along with types of chemicals, electricity, and/or friction. Fire, hot parts of the engine, airbag deployment, spilled fluids, battery acid, exhaust pipes, pavement, or sliding across asphalt can all result in a burn when involved in a car accident.

There are many ways that a severe burn injury car wreck NC. A common cause is if the fuel line ruptures, if a vehicle catches on fire, or if a person is trapped next to a fire. In the case of motorcycle riders, there is another factor to keep in mind when discussing potential burns: motorcyclists do not have a metal frame surrounding them; they do not have any doors protecting them; and there are generally no functional airbags protecting their bodies.

This is why treatment for road rash and burns treatment North Carolina (road rash and burns treatment NC) is so important. Although road rash may seem insignificant when you first hear about it, severe road rash injuries can take off the upper layers of skin and act like a burn.

Burns happen in crashes because vehicles carry heat, fuel, chemicals, electricity, and friction. A person can be burned by fire, hot engine parts, airbags, spilled fluids, battery acid, exhaust pipes, pavement, or sliding across asphalt.

How Severe Is Road Rash? The Degree Classification

Levels of road rash are determined by the extent of damage done to the skin.  For instance, a first-degree road rash involves damage to only the outermost layer of the skin, causing a mild sting and reddening of the skin; whereas a second-degree road rash involves damage to the inside layers of the skin (the dermis) and generally has a higher potential for blood loss and scarring, and should be treated by a medical professional.  

Finally, a third-degree road rash involves damage to the subcutaneous layer of the skin and may lead to exposure of muscle and typically requires a skin graft.  Knowing the type of road rash helps determine what to expect with treatment, time for recovery, and risk of scarring.

What Types Of Burns Can Vehicle Wrecks Cause?

Not all burn injuries can be treated equally; treatment of an individual’s burn will depend on the cause, the extent, the size, and the location of the injury.

A thermal burns motorcycle accident NC will likely occur when a rider makes contact with the exhaust, the engine, or the heated roadway after having been ejected from their motorcycle. Automobile accidents resulting in thermal burns may occur as a result of airbags, fires, hot fluid, or heated air being trapped inside the vehicle.

What Should You Do Immediately After A Crash Burn?

To begin treating a burn injury from a motor vehicle accident in North Carolina, first move away from the source of heat and flames (such as fire and leaking fuel) if possible. Also, be sure to call 911 so that accident burn care NC emergency personnel can respond to the scene quickly. If your clothing is on fire, you should stop, drop to the ground, and roll to extinguish the flames.

To provide first aid for burn injuries after crash NC, you can cool the burned area by putting it under clean, running water for a few minutes. If the area is going to swell, you should remove any jewelry or tight items from the area before the swelling begins. After cooling the burned area, you should cover it with a clean, dry cloth or sterile dressing. MedlinePlus recommends that you use water for chilling burns; avoid using ice directly on your skin because it can cause further injury.

What Should You Avoid?

There are several things you should not do when treating a burn injury. You should never apply butter, grease, toothpaste, alcohol, or other creams to the burn. You should not pop blisters that form on the burn. 

You should not remove clothing that has stuck to the burn. You should not apply ice directly to the burn. And, if the burn is deep, spreading, or infected, you should not wait to seek medical attention, since burns can get worse quickly.

When Should You Go To The Emergency Room?

Get help right away if you have a burn that is deep, bigger than a small area, or on your face, hands, feet, genitals, or major joints. Get help right away if the burn is from fire, chemicals, electricity, fuel, smoke, or a crash with other injuries.

Burns from accidents in NC will be treated at an emergency department. This is done through cleaning the wound after it is treated and by giving pain medication and antibiotics if necessary. 

The patient will be checked for tetanus, have imaging done, have dressings put on, and be given fluids, along with a consultation with a specialist. If the person had smoke, fire, or soot, then the doctor would check for an inhalation injury as well.

How Do North Carolina Hospitals Treat Accident Burns?

For hospital burn care North Carolina accident victims, the first step in the treatment of an injury from a burn is to stabilize the patient, determine if they are breathing and have circulation, and determine the extent of wounds to the patient from crash injuries.

The actual treatment of the injury can include cleaning the wound, excising (cutting away) the dead tissue, applying dressings, administering fluids to the patient, controlling the patient’s pain, preventing infection, and providing a plan for follow-up care for the patient. Patients with severe burns may require surgical intervention, skin grafts, or transfer to an appropriate burn center for additional support. 

The American Burn Association has specific referral guidelines for serious burn victims, including…

• victims whose burns involve the face
• hands, feet, genitals, or major joints
• victims who have electrical or chemical burns
• victims with inhalation injury
• and victims with serious burn injuries who also have another form of traumatic injury.

Why Is Infection Control So Important?

The skin serves to protect the body from harm; when a burn has penetrated through the protective layer of skin, bacteria may have an opportunity to enter. In the case of road debris, dirt, glass, metal, fuel, or clothing fibers being present at a burn injury from an accident in North Carolina, the likelihood of an infection occurring at the site of the burn may increase the infection risk burn injuries accident North Carolina.

Signs of infection include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, pus, increased pain, fever, red streaks, or a foul smell. If you notice any of these signs of an infection, please do not ignore them, as they can slow down your healing process and/or increase the appearance of scars.

Why Are Motorcycle Burn Injuries Often More Severe?

Riders may encounter burn hazards when they slide off their motorcycle and come in contact with hot surfaces, bare skin, or little protection at the time of injury. Even with protective clothing, it is possible for a rider to sustain contact burns due to torn clothing.

Motorcycle crash burn treatment North Carolina involves the removal of any gravel or pavement fragments, treatment of deep abrasions, cleaning and protecting open wounds, and monitoring for infection. Deeper burns can lead to scarring or damage to nerve endings. Additionally, a victim may also have sustained other injuries, including fractures, a concussion, or a shoulder injury; burn injuries are therefore only one aspect of the overall injury.

Does Not Wearing A Helmet Affect Your Claim?

The majority have this question at some point and are often shocked by the answer. In North Carolina, there is a helmet law. However, the fact that you were not wearing a helmet when injured does not automatically prevent recovery for your injury; contributory negligence applies only where the lack of a helmet was a specific contributing factor to the underlying injury at issue (i.e., head injuries that a helmet could have prevented). Thus, non-head-related injuries (such as burns or road rash) have no contributory negligence claim against them.

What Does Recovery From Accident Burns Look Like?

Burn recovery from an accident in North Carolina will depend on factors such as depth, location, infection, age, health, and whether surgery is required. Some burns will recover within just days; others may take many months.

Recovery from accident burns NC will include items such as wound checks, dressing changes, medication, physical therapy, scar massage, compression garments, plastic surgery, skin grafts, counseling, and pain control. When a burn crosses over joints (i.e., neck, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, ankle, and shoulder), there can be tightening of the scar tissue, significantly reducing the range of motion.

Burn pain can be described as sharp, burning, itching, throbbing, and/or nerve-based, and can be hurtful when dressing changes need to be performed. Pain management is not a sign of weakness but is a part of the healing process.

Can Burns Cause Long-Term Problems?

Burns can leave people with lasting damage through scarring, changes in skin color, nerve pain, loss of mobility, disfigurement, complications of an infection, and psychological trauma. 

A person with other people being able to see their scars may be anxious in public. A motorcycle rider may be afraid to ride again. A worker with burns on their hands may have difficulty using tools, typing, lifting, and gripping. You need to do more than just cover the initial dressing when planning for the burn treatment car and motorcycle wrecks North Carolina.

What Compensation May Be Available For Burn And Road Rash Injuries?

Burn injuries are frequently treated by insurance providers as minor wounds, although scarring/disfigurement/nerve damage from those will contribute to long-term financial costs for which you should be made whole through full reimbursement of all damages.

Typically, when your burn is only partially compensated with a single ER visit, you’ll find that you have incurred substantial amounts of money due to not having been fully compensated for your burn injury.

What Evidence Helps Support A Burn Injury Claim?

The significance of evidence is important in that if insurance companies do not take into consideration the aforementioned elements (i.e., pain, risk of infection, scarring, and future medical care) as it relates to burns, they may minimize the burn as a minor injury.

Useful proof may include

Examples of evidence to be obtained and presented would include:

• photos of the crash site
• photographs of burns over the duration of healing
• medical records
• notes from the emergency room
• records for all treatments provided for wound care
• prescription records
• therapy records
• scarring evaluations
• notes from rehabilitation
• police report
• pictures of vehicles
• pictures of motorcycle equipment
• witness statements
• repair estimate
• fire report
• insurance company correspondence and lost wages due to missed work.

Drivers and authorized users in North Carolina, they may request that the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles provides them with the official North Carolina accident report.

In burn cases, the first photograph of an individual seldom can be utilized to discern the full picture of the burn case; we consider pain and suffering, infection risk, potential for scarring, potential for loss of work activity, and lifestyle changes due to injury.

When Should You Talk To A Lawyer?

If you suffered a burn resulting in emergency treatment, scarring, infection, need for surgery, loss of work, nerve damage, or disfigurement (or you require extensive ongoing treatment), it may be advisable to consult with a lawyer. 

In addition, you may wish to consult with a lawyer if you were involved in a car or motorcycle accident caused by: 

• a negligent driver
• defective vehicle part
• commercial vehicle
• or are involved in an insurance dispute. 

An attorney will help protect your claim by preserving evidence, obtaining medical records, documenting future medical care needed for your burn, and assisting with the insurance company in recovering the full value of your injury.

Talk To Tatum & Atkinson Law Firm About Burns After Car And Motorcycle Wrecks In North Carolina

So, how to treat burns caused by car and motorcycle wrecks in North Carolina? To begin with, cool the area off. Second, cover the area. Third, avoid ice! Fourth, seek medical attention if your injury is serious or if it resulted from your motor vehicle accident. 

An injury from a motor vehicle accident doesn’t only affect one’s skin; it can affect their ability to move, to work, to sleep, to be confident, and to have a healthy future. If your injury occurred due to a vehicle crash, make sure that you document all of your injuries. For more information, call (800) 529-0804 now for a free consultation!

FAQs: How To Treat Burns Caused By Car And Motorcycle Wrecks In North Carolina?

Should I put ice directly on a burn after a car or motorcycle accident? 

Cool running water may be used for a burn; ice might harm the burn. For significant burns, cover it and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Can minor burns from a crash get worse over time? 

Burns may show signs of lack of healing; blisters, swelling, infection, or damage to deeper tissues can occur many hours to several days after the injury occurred.

Do all burn injuries require hospitalization after a vehicle accident? 

Some minor burns may not be life-threatening, but large, deep, infected burns on the face or hands, caused by chemicals or electrical current, or caused by an inhalation injury, will still need immediate medical care.

Can accident-related burns cause permanent scarring? 

Deep burns, infected burns, those with skin grafts, and friction burns are likely to leave permanent scars; the scars may be raised, depressed, discolored, or may disrupt free movement. 

When should a burn victim go to a specialized burn center? 

A burn center should be considered for deep, large, chemical, electrical, inhalation, facial, hand, or joint injuries.

About the Author

Robert Tatum

Robert Tatum is the founding attorney at Tatum & Atkinson. He is licensed to practice in all North Carolina state and federal courts and before the U.S. Supreme Court. He earned his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2002 and his B.S. from the University of Virginia in 1999. His practice focuses on personal injury law. Connect with him on LinkedIn.