Motorcycle accidents can cause a host of injuries. One possible injury is a burn. When a motorcycle is struck by another vehicle, there is a chance that the gas tank may explode or that either the motorcycle or the vehicle will catch on fire. In either case, a burn might occur.
There are three degrees of burns that you should know about. A first-degree burn is the least serious, while a third-degree burn is the most serious. In many cases, a first-degree burn can be treated with basic first aid. Second-degree burns and third-degree burns usually require medical treatment.
First-degree burns cause pain, swelling and redness. These burns affect the outer layer of the skin. If the affected area covers a good portion of the face, groin, feet or hands, medical care might be in order.
Second-degree burns are a little more serious. These burns cause pain, swelling, blisters and splotchy, white or red skin. As is the case with first-degree burns, if the burn covers a good portion of the already mentioned body parts or if the burn is more than 3 inches wide, medical care is needed urgently.
Third-degree burns always require emergency medical care. These burns affect all layers of fat and skin. They can affect the bone and muscle tissue if the burn is deep enough. These burns are white or black.
Getting medical care for burns, especially third-degree burns, can be costly. If the accident that led to your burns was caused by another driver’s negligence, you might opt to pursue compensation for the injuries so you can cover the costs of medical care.
Source: Mayo Clinic, “Burns: First Aid,” accessed June 18, 2015
