Fire is what drivers fear most after a wreck, and with good reason. Burn injuries from big rig accidents happen because a truck carries far more fuel than a passenger car, and plenty of trucks haul flammable, combustible or hazardous cargo on top of that. When a crash splits a fuel tank or lights up the load, the fire or explosion that follows can badly burn anyone trapped in a cab or car nearby.

These injuries are brutal to treat and among the most expensive to recover from.

Burn severity levels

Burn center treatment room with sterile dressing supplies laid out on a tray
  • First-degree: only the outer layer of skin. It usually heals without scarring.
  • Second-degree: reaches deeper skin layers, with blistering and a real risk of scarring and infection.
  • Third-degree: full-thickness burns that destroy skin and the tissue under it. These usually need skin grafts.
  • Fourth-degree: goes into muscle, tendon or bone. It's the most severe and life-threatening category.

Treatment and long-term impact

Physical therapist stretching a patient's hand wrapped in a compression glove
  • Emergency burn unit care, often at a specialized regional burn center
  • Several skin graft and reconstructive surgeries over months or years
  • Long, painful wound care and infection control
  • Physical therapy to keep scar tissue from tightening up and to get movement back
  • Psychological care for trauma, disfigurement and body image
  • Permanent scarring, which is compensable as disfigurement separate from medical costs

For a driver, burns to the hands, arms or face can mean months off the road, and scar contractures can limit the grip and reach the job needs. Your pay records, like settlement sheets and per-mile pay history, show what that time off and any lost ability to work actually cost. Families caring for a burned loved one should keep track of the hours they spend on dressing changes and appointments, too.

Hazardous cargo adds complexity

Tanker truck with blank hazard placard frames parked at a fuel terminal at dusk

If the truck was hauling hazardous materials, federal placarding and handling rules apply, and a violation can make the case a lot stronger. Read more about the FMCSA regulations for commercial cargo and how they play into liability.

Burn cases often bring in the trailer or tanker manufacturer on top of the carrier and the driver. See what compensation may cover, or start a free case review today.

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