What to Do if You Suffered Chemical Burns After a Car Accident
Car accidents can lead to all types of injuries, including chemical burns. Chemical burns can vary in terms of severity with the worst burns leading to expensive damages. If you suffered chemical burns in a car accident, you may be able to recover some of your costs through a personal injury lawsuit.
What Are Chemical Burns?
Chemical burns are injuries caused by strong acids or other chemicals. This type of injury is common in car accidents, especially when an airbag inflates. Airbags contain chemicals like sodium azide and nitrogen, and when released, they can form sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide can cause severe burns when it touches the skin.
Another common cause of chemical burns in a car accident is battery acid. Car batteries contain acid and lead. The impact caused by two cars hitting each other can cause the battery to leak and if it touches the skin, it can burn you.
While chemical burns on the skin are the most common type of burn injury, these same chemicals can also lead to other injuries. Inhaling or ingesting the chemicals can be even more dangerous, depending on the type of chemical. This type of injury often requires immediate medical care.
Types of Chemical Burns
Chemical burns are usually categorized by how deep they are, including first, second, or third-degree burns. First-degree burns mean the chemical products have affected the top layer of the skin. Second-degree burns go a layer deeper and may blister or be painful. Third-degree burns are the worst type of burn, often leading to pain and permanent damage.
What to Do After a Car Accident
The first step following any car accident should be to report it. Reporting a car accident to the local police also dispatches medical help. If you or one of your passengers was injured, including chemical burns, it’s important that you receive medical care as soon as possible. Leaving chemical burns untreated can make them worse.
Recoverable Damages Following a Car Accident Chemical Burn
Your recovery from chemical burns will depend on the severity of the burn. First-degree burns may heal over a few weeks or months, whereas third-degree burns will be permanent. Second-degree burns may eventually heal but can be painful and expensive to deal with in the meantime. If you were injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover costs like:
- Medical costs
- Pain and suffering
- Property damages
- Long-term care treatment
Short-term care for chemical burns may include immediate medical treatment. Long-term care may include rehabilitative costs or cosmetic surgical procedures to remove the burn scars. Some burns may also prevent you from returning to work during recovery. If someone else is the cause of your chemical burns, then it’s only right that they help you cover the costs related to them.
While medical care should be a priority, it’s also important to consider your options as soon as possible. New Jersey has a time limit on how long you have to file a personal injury case.
Contact a Hudson County Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Birkhold & Maider represent clients injured because of Essex County, Hudson County, Mercer County, Union County, and throughout New Jersey. Call (973) 947-4670 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 189 Franklin Avenue, Suite 1 Nutley, NJ 07110, as well as a satellite office in Hamilton, NJ.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
