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Burn Injuries from Colorado Uber Accidents

The injuries that can occur in an accident with an Uber driver are no different than any other type of car crash. Unfortunately, these injuries can be devastating in many cases. One of the most severe types of injuries possible in an Uber crash involves severe burns.

Burn injuries can occur in an Uber crash when the flammable fuel carried in the vehicle catches fire. These fires can occur quickly, leaving everyone involved in the accident with severe burns across much of their body.

Burn injuries often have long-term or permanent consequences. In many cases, the scarring and risk of infection require years of ongoing medical care. If you find yourself suffering from these injuries due to a careless Uber driver, you could have a viable claim for monetary compensation. To maximize your chances of recovery, contact accidentdenver.com right away to discuss your legal options.

Degrees of Burn Injuries

When medical professionals categorize burn injuries, they do so using a system of degrees. All burn injuries fall into one of these four categories. They start with the relatively minor first-degree burns and go up to severe fourth-degree burns.

Given the flammable nature of gasoline, burn injuries stemming from an Uber accident are often severe. This extreme heat can cause lasting damage in a short matter of time. That said, a car accident could result in any degree of burn injury.

First-Degree Burns

At the lowest level of burn injuries are first-degree burns. These burns are largely superficial, stemming from heat damage to the outermost layer of skin. With these injuries, the layers of skin below the burn are undamaged. These injuries general heal on their own in a few days, but until then they include pain and redness.

Second-Degree Burns

A second-degree burn is far more serious than a first-degree burn. These injuries involve not only the external layer of skin but several other layers beneath the burn area. These injuries are painful, resulting in swollen and blistered skin in many cases. These injuries can take weeks to heal. While they often do not result in scars, a second-degree burn could alter the color of your skin pigment at the burn site.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns are severe injuries that can have permanent consequences. Despite their severity, they are often not immediately painful. This is due to the destruction of nerve endings in the skin near the location of the burn. These burns destroy every layer of the skin, which also includes the nerve endings the skin contains. Third-degree burns often lead to scarring and permanent skin color changes.

Fourth-Degree Burns

Fourth-degree burns are the most severe form of burn injuries possible. These injuries are severe enough to be fatal in many cases. A fourth-degree burn occurs when the burn destroys not only the skin but also the muscle or bone underneath. In many cases, the outer skin is charred.

Challenges in Taking on a Colorado Uber Accident Burn Injury Claim

Burn injuries represent unique challenges that are not present in many other car accident claims. These claims are made more complicated when a Uber driver is responsible for the crash.

Burn injuries are often complex. Unlike a cut or broken bone, burn injuries can lead to a lifetime of disfigurement or risk of infection. Severe burns often involve scarring at the location of the injury, which can result in permanent disfigurement. These injuries also frequently result in nerve injury that leads to long-term, chronic pain. Dealing with this scarring or nerve damage can take multiple attempts by medical professionals to address.

Burn injuries also frequently lead to infection. Burns often destroy the outer layer of skin, increasing the risk of infection for any areas the burns impact. These injuries could result in future medical costs you might not expect due to the risk of infection.

Suffering an injury at the hands of a negligent Uber driver adds an additional layer of complexity to these claims. While it is true that Uber often provides its drivers with robust insurance coverage, the reality is that these policies are not always applicable. The maximum amount of insurance coverage may be available when an Uber driver is carrying a passenger, but the company policies might not apply at all if the driver did not have their app active at the time of the crash.

In the end, the insurance companies that provide coverage for Uber drivers are no different than any other carriers. They will go to extensive lengths to avoid paying a settlement regardless of the facts of the case. Thankfully, you have options for holding these insurance companies accountable. Your attorney could not only seek compensation from these policies, but they could also hold the careless driver accountable directly.

Compensation in a Burn Injury Accident

Because of the severe, long-term consequences that come with a burn injury, the compensation in these cases is often substantial. However, you will only recover the damages you are able to show you are entitled to. Before you can demonstrate you are entitled to these forms of compensation, it is vital that you understand what could be available in your case.

In general, your compensable damages fall into two primary categories. These categories are economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are measurable losses that result from your burn injury. They can include the cost of medical treatment or the amount of lost wages your injuries cost you. Establishing the value of these damages at trial often requires copies or receipts, invoices, or paid bills.

Non-economic damages are not as measurable. These subjective losses cover the types of damages that cannot be encapsulated by a receipt. For example, your pain and suffering or disfigurement are examples of non-economic damages.

Speak with a Colorado Uber Accident Attorney

If you are ready to pursue compensation for your burn injuries following an Uber accident, it is crucial that you speak with legal counsel as soon as possible. To discuss your options moving forward, contact accidentdenver.com as soon as possible at 303-642-8888 to schedule a free consultation.

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