What happens when a large truck or big rig crashes and starts a fire, injuring innocent victims? Who is responsible for the damage caused? After the recent raging fire in Calabasas, where residents were forced to evacuate their homes, the upcoming warmer months which are often prime for fires throughout the San Fernando Valley, and the increase in construction and construction-related vehicles around the new Warner Center, these questions are ones that are on the top of many peoples’ minds.
Big rigs and fires
All big rigs use diesel fuel. While diesel is harder to ignite that regular fuel, since big rigs typically carry 100 gallons of diesel fuel, it can be a major catastrophe for the rig and any passenger vehicles in the area if the fuel is ignited. Fires caused by big rig accidents are often the result of rollovers. If you or a loved one were injured in a fire caused by a trucking accident or big rig accident, know that California law and the experienced legal professionals are on your side.
Unlike car crashes with gasoline, the rupture of a big rig’s fuel tank will probably not ignite the diesel fuel through sparks. If the big rig is carrying flammable materials, however, a rupture could easily set fire to those materials and an ignition source could result.
Burn injuries
Burn injuries can be traumatizing and take months, if not longer, to fully recover from. The severity of a burn is determined by how deep it is.
- First-degree burns harm only the outer layer of skin, known as the epidermis and result in pain, redness, and swelling.
- Second-degree burns go deeper. They damage not only the outer layer of skin, but the layer below it, called the dermis, causing blistering and swelling.
- Third-degree burns destroy all the layers of the skin, extending into layers beneath. These burns produce numbness because the nerve supply has also been destroyed. Scars, possible loss of function, and/or sensation result from third degree burns.
There is hope for burn victims, even those with serious third degree burns. While not long ago, individuals who suffered burns over 50% of their bodies were not expected to live, modern medicine has enabled many severely burned victims to survive, even when the burned area covers 90% of their bodies. These victims, however, will often be left with permanent scars and disabilities as well as chronic pain. An accident victim who suffers serious burns can recover financial compensation for damages related to their injuries. An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to explain in further detail.
For more information on how to recover compensation after suffering burns or other injuries in a truck accident, contact Woodland Hills attorney Barry P. Goldberg today.
