Burn Injuries in Trailer Fires After a Truck Crash

Truck accidents are devastating enough on their own—a tractor-trailer’s size and shape make it capable of causing far more serious accidents than other types of vehicles. But when a truck’s trailer catches on fire after a crash, victims may suffer some of the most excruciating and life-changing injuries possible. Severe burns require immediate medical attention, and even with the best care, victims will likely be left permanently injured.

Survivors of trailer fire accidents may be left wondering what comes next or how to move forward. We can help. Call Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers to set up a consultation right away.

Why trailer fires happen after truck accidents

Tractor-trailers carry massive amounts of fuel, and hazmat trucks can also carry explosive chemicals. When an accident occurs, the impact can lead to ruptured fuel tanks, spilled diesel, and failed electrical systems—all of which create the ideal circumstances for a fire. Some of the most common causes of fires include:

• Fuel tank ruptures: The force of a truck accident can puncture the fuel tank, covering the roadway with flammable diesel. It just takes one spark to turn that into a fire.
• Electrical malfunctions: Damaged wiring—a common outcome in serious truck accidents—can spark and ignite nearby cargo or spilled fuel.
• Overheated brakes: Overheated brakes can set fire to spilled fuel, shredded tires, and cargo spills during a collision.
• Hazardous materials: The hazardous materials carried by a truck can catch fire. This is particularly risky when carrying dangerous chemicals, as they can interact with each other and cause an explosion.

Types of burn injuries

The type of burn injury you suffer after a truck accident depends a lot on the materials involved. Burn injuries may be categorized by what causes them:

• Thermal: Thermal burns are caused by direct contact with fire or hot surfaces.
• Chemical: Victims of truck accidents may suffer chemical burns when exposed to hazardous chemicals during an accident.
• Electrical: Electrical burns may occur if live wires or batteries catch on fire after an accident.
• Inhalation injuries: While not technically burns, inhaling smoke or toxic fumes can cause severe—and potentially permanent—lung damage.

Burns are also classified by severity. First-degree burns are the most superficial, affecting only the top layer of the skin. These burns cause redness and pain. Second-degree burns are markedly more severe, impacting deeper layers of skin, causing blisters, and scarring. Third-degree burns destroy the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin, often reaching into the subcutaneous tissue. Affected skin generally looks white or blackened and charred. Finally, fourth-degree burns go through all layers of skin and underlying tissue, often reaching muscle and bone. At this stage, victims generally don’t feel any pain because the nerve endings in the area are completely destroyed.

Medical consequences of burn injuries

Burn victims often go through some of the slowest and most painful recoveries of all accident victims. Treatment begins with emergency care to stabilize the victim and stop the burn from becoming infected. Once a patient has stabilized in a specialized burn unit, they still have a long road to recovery. Ongoing challenges often include:

• Multiple surgeries: Skin grafts, scar revisions, and reconstructive surgeries may be required for years after the initial injury.
• Severe pain: Nerve damage can make burn pain incredibly persistent and difficult to manage.
• Limited mobility: Burns tighten skin and restrict movement.
• Disfigurement: Scarring and facial burns affect victims’ self-esteem and appearance.
• Respiratory damage: The smoke inhalation that often comes with burns can lead to permanently reduced lung capacity.
• Emotional impact: Many burn victims struggle with depression, PTSD, social anxiety, and other mental health concerns as a result of their injuries. Tasks that once required no mental preparation—going to work or running errands—may require extensive preparation and bravery.

Financial burdens faced by burn survivors

Burn care can be financially devastating for families. The risk of infection alone is extremely high in the early days after a burn injury, requiring constant monitoring and intervention if an infection begins to take root. Victims of trailer fires are often left with expenses like hospital bills, extensive physical and occupational therapy bills, specialized equipment like compression garments and ointments, lost income, and long-term care needs.

Families who lose loved ones to trailer fires are left with their grief, funeral costs, and the loss of financial support once provided by their loved one.

Securing compensation from truck drivers

Trailer fires are often the result of multiple failures, not just one. For example, the accident itself is a failure, often resulting from fatigue, speeding, or inexperience. However, the trailer fire that follows the accident may be the result of several additional errors, such as improper securement of hazardous cargo, inadequate maintenance of brakes and electrical systems, or a failure to notice cracked fuel lines. Figuring out liability means figuring out what went wrong at every step of the collision and whose errors led to both the crash and the fire.

This can be challenging when multiple parties end up being partially liable, as your burn injury lawyer will need to figure out how blame is spread out among the at-fault parties. Each party will likely try to downplay its own role in the collision and point the finger at the other negligent party.

Another issue that may arise is the destruction of evidence. Much of the evidence used to prove negligence after a trailer fire may be destroyed in the fire itself. Your truck accident lawyer can work to secure black box data, preserve maintenance and inspection records, look into shipping compliance, and work with fire experts to figure out what exactly went wrong.

Choose Gainsberg Law for your trailer fire claim

If a trailer fire has left you in pain and facing a grueling recovery process after a truck accident, do not take on the insurance companies alone. While you focus on your health and recovery, we can take on the legal side of your accident. Reach out online or call us now.