Burn Injuries: HRBT Multi-Vehicle Crash Causes Vehicles to Erupt in Flames

January 30, 2023

Car Accidents, Virginia Personal Injury

A recent crash in the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel resulted in a chain-reaction accident that caused several vehicles to catch fire and the tunnel to shut down for more than five hours. The fire caused the tunnel to quickly fill up with smoke. According to Virginia State Police, one trooper was transported to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Investigation into the multi-vehicle accident found that five vehicles were racing inside the tunnel when one lost control and struck the wall twice, causing the vehicle to burst into flames. The 17-year-old driver of the vehicle was charged with reckless driving by racing and general reckless driving. The other drivers involved in the accident were charged with reckless driving by racing.

National Burn Awareness Week

Next week is National Burn Awareness Week, the American Burn Association’s annual public awareness campaign. This year’s campaign theme is “Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire!” but safety advocates also focus on the dangers of severe burn injuries in vehicle crashes and other types of accidents.

Burn injuries occur more often than many people realize. Accident victims can suffer catastrophic burns from heat, flames, chemicals, electricity, or steam. In 2021, there were approximately 174,000 highway vehicle fires reported in the U.S., resulting in the deaths of more than 650 victims.

There are multiple ways a car accident victim can suffer a burn injury besides the vehicle catching on fire or explosion. These include:

  • A part of the victim’s body comes into contact with a live wire that becomes exposed in the accident.
  • Chemicals from the vehicle escape and splash on the victim.
  • Steam or fluid spraying from the radiator splash on the victim.
  • The victim comes into contact with a part of the vehicle that has gotten extremely hot while they try to escape the vehicle.

Burn Injuries

Regardless of how burn injuries occur, the reality for many victims is that these injuries can leave them with life-long physical and psychological pain, and scarring, and affect their overall quality of life. Many victims suffer excruciating pain that can last for months or even be permanent, along with permanent nerve damage. There is also a high risk of infection, which can be fatal. If the burns are too extensive, the victim may even face amputation if the damage is too much for the body to heal from.

Call a Virginia Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has suffered burn injuries from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, contact a Virginia personal injury attorney to discuss what legal options you may have against the at-fault party. Our legal team will work diligently, using all available resources, to get you the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries. We have successfully represented many burn victims and their families who have suffered horrific losses, including a $2.5 million jury award for one family whose loved one died when the riding lawnmower he was on exploded without warning.

Some of the damages you may be able to collect include medical expenses, loss of income and benefits, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, scarring, disfigurement, and more. Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation to find out what legal recourse you may have for the losses you have suffered.

 

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