What Causes Burn Injuries in Truck Accidents?

Burn injuries in truck accidents are not the most common crash outcome, but when fire is involved, the damage can be excessive. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are approximately 15,462 large-truck fires every year. During a four-year study period, these resulted in 102 injuries and 46 deaths. However, while burn injury is a relatively uncommon result of truck accidents, the consequences for those who suffer them can be permanent.

Burn injuries can result in serious infection. They can cause nerve damage, require numerous skin grafts, and cause permanent scarring. Inhalation injuries, which often accompany accidents involving fire, can impact breathing and lung capacity long after a wreck is cleared as well, even when a burn is minor. Because these injuries often result in long-term medical costs and financial losses, seeking fair compensation is essential.

Burn injuries in truck accidents do not always receive the serious attention they deserve from insurance companies. This is why it is important to have an experienced truck crash attorney on your side when pursuing compensation. Burg Simpson has been helping victims of serious injury seek justice for 50 years. We are here to determine how your injuries occurred and help you seek maximum compensation for your damages.

Contact a Truck Accident Burn Injury Lawyer for FREE

To schedule a FREE case review with one of our truck accident lawyers, call Burg Simpson at 303-792-5595 today. Located in Denver, we serve individuals and families dealing with the lasting consequences of burn injuries throughout Colorado.

The Leading Causes of Burn Injuries in Truck Accidents

Truck collisions can cause burn injury in several ways. Some of the most common scenarios include:

Fuel system damage after impact

Fuel tanks, lines, and engine components can become damaged or ruptured during a crash. According to the NFPA, vehicle fires commonly begin in the engine area. Fires involving the fuel tank or fuel lines often have deadly consequences.

Mechanical failure or malfunction

Mechanical issues that start a fire before a crash can be exacerbated by leaking fluids and other fire accelerants. NFPA identified mechanical failure or malfunction as the leading factor contributing to the ignition of vehicle fires, including 44% of all large truck fires.

Electrical failure and short circuits

Electrical failures can ignite insulation, wiring, or nearby fluids. This is made worse when a crash damages a truck’s electrical system. The NFPA has cited electrical failure and malfunction as a major factor in highway vehicle fires.

Brake, wheel, and tire overheating

On steep grades, particularly with heavy loads, brake, wheel, and tire overheating can all contribute to the ignition of a fire. NFPA notes that many large truck fires begin with the ignition of a tire.

Collisions and rollovers

According to the NFPA, 53% of vehicle fires attributed to mechanical and electrical failures are caused by collisions or rollovers. This means that collisions and rollovers are not just a contributing factor, but a primary cause of truck crash fires that can lead to severe burn injury.

Cargo spills and flammable liquids

Tanker trucks carrying gasoline, ethanol, or flammable liquids can combust or explode when they come into contact with pavement or other vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that an average of 101 fatal truck crashes every year involve explosion or fire as the primary “harmful event.”

Burn injuries in truck accidents can follow any of these events. Identifying the exact cause is often necessary for pursuing full compensation. At Burg Simpson, we work with accident reconstruction experts and other specialists to identify the cause of these crashes and the source of ignition, allowing us to identify the responsible parties and hold each accountable for their actions.

The Life-Altering Impacts of Burn Injuries

Burn injuries caused by truck accidents can be extremely painful. They can also have serious and lasting consequences, including:

• Physical: skin grafts, nerve damage, limited mobility from contractures, infection risk, chronic pain, and possible inhalation injuries.
• Emotional: trauma, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and social isolation due to discomfort.
• Financial: emergency treatment, ICU care, burn-center treatment, surgeries, rehab, prescription costs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, and home or vehicle accommodations.

Burn injuries in truck accidents can impact every area of your life. Each of these impacts must be fully considered when calculating your damages.

Burg Simpson collaborates with internal professionals and external specialists in fields such as life care and financial planning to accurately calculate burn injury damages. This helps to ensure the amount we pursue is truly reflective of the way your injury has and will continue to impact your life.

Compensation for Burn Injuries in Truck Accidents

A truck crash burn injury claim can include both economic and non-economic losses. Depending on the specifics of your claim, these can include:

• Medical costs like ER care, hospitalization, surgeries, grafts, medications, and future care.
• Lost income due to an inability to work and diminished earning capacity.
• Home and vehicle modifications, such as ramps, handrails, and adaptive technologies needed to accommodate your injury.
• Out-of-pocket expenses, including travel costs and caregiver fees.
• The impacts of scarring and disfiguration on both physical and emotional well-being.
• Pain and suffering, including loss of enjoyment in life, forced changes to lifestyle, and physical and emotional distress.

While there is no cap (no limit) on the amount of economic damages you can pursue following a truck accident in Colorado, there is a cap on non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. For accidents that occurred before January 1, 2025, the cap is $613,760. But for burn injuries in truck accidents that happened after January 1, 2025, the cap has been increased to $1.5 million.

At Burg Simpson, our award-winning trial lawyers work to secure maximum compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. During your no-cost, no-obligation case review, we can discuss possible damages to help you understand what your case might be worth.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Burn Injury Claim in Colorado?

Colorado Revised Statute § 13-18-101 provides victims of motor vehicle accidents three years to take legal action following a crash. This starts from the day you discover (or reasonably should have discovered) your injuries. When it comes to burn injuries in truck accidents, the discovery of harm is immediate, meaning the clock likely started ticking on the day of the crash. The sooner you reach out to an experienced truck wreck lawyer, the quicker they can get to work protecting your rights and helping to ensure no deadlines are missed.

Why Choose Burg Simpson for Your Truck Accident Claim?

Burg Simpson is an award-winning law firm with five decades of experience helping people who have been injured in accidents get the compensation they deserve. We have secured more than $2 billion in verdicts, settlements, and judgments for our clients, including millions for victims of truck crash injuries.

Compassionate, attentive, and dedicated, our legal team builds smart cases with the intent to win. We only get paid after we secure compensation on your behalf, and we are prepared to take your claim as far as needed to help ensure all of your needs, current and future, are met.

Schedule Your Free Consultation With One of Our Truck Crash Burn Injury Attorneys

Burn injuries in truck accidents can have lifelong impacts. If you or a loved one is dealing with them, use our online contact form or call our Denver office to schedule a FREE consultation with an experienced lawyer today. We serve the Front Range, Rocky Mountains, Western Slope, and Eastern Plains from our office in Denver. We can also travel to you if your burn injuries have impacted your mobility.