Suing for Shrapnel Injuries After an Explosion in South Carolina
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that most accidental explosion injuries are caused by fireworks and pressurized containers. These explosive accidents can cause “serious secondary injuries,” potentially due to shrapnel flying through the air. The NIH goes on to say that many civilian shrapnel injuries are similar to those caused by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in military combat. If you’re recovering from shrapnel injuries in South Carolina, you might want to contact an experienced injury attorney.
What Are Shrapnel Injuries?
Some refer to shrapnel injuries as “secondary blast injuries.” These injuries are “secondary” because they occur after the initial explosion. The secondary element of this explosion is fragments or debris sent flying through the air at high speed after the initial blast. These fragments and debris can impact victims and cause severe injuries.
Depending on the type of debris and the velocity at which it impacts the victim, shrapnel can cause all kinds of injuries. Fragments of dirt, rocks, metal, and glass can become embedded in the human body. Not only does this threaten vital organs and arteries, but it also heightens the risk of infection. Shrapnel injuries often become infected, and doctors must painstakingly remove all fragments to eliminate the threat of infection.
Shrapnel injuries can also be disfiguring. For example, a victim might suffer a shrapnel injury to the face involving shards of metal embedded deep into their skin. Although doctors might remove the fragments, the scars may never truly heal. Many victims of explosive blasts also suffer permanent injuries to their eyes. Some suffer severe fractures, and others experience genital injuries that severely affect their quality of life.
What Causes Shrapnel Injuries?
As the NIH notes, many shrapnel injuries are caused by pressurized containers. These might include aerosol cans, propane containers, fire extinguishers, and much more. However, there are many other things that can cause explosions in the civilian world. Household appliances like pressure cookers have a tendency to explode.
Another potential threat is explosive cargo carried by a commercial truck. Although many civilians are blissfully unaware of this, a considerable number of semi-trucks on the road carry highly explosive items, including propane tanks or even military ammunition. A crash involving one of these vehicles can easily set off an explosion, causing shrapnel to fly across the air.
Finally, all vehicles are explosive to a certain degree. Fuel tanks can easily ignite if ruptured, and a spark may set off a major blast. Even electric vehicles (EVs) can explode if their batteries become sufficiently damaged.
Can a South Carolina Explosion Accident Lawyer Help Me?
Whether you were injured by a pressurized container or any other explosive hazard, you deserve the right to consider your legal options. Shrapnel injuries in South Carolina can be devastating, and they can affect your life permanently. Consider contacting the Charleston personal injury lawyers at Mickelsen Dalton, LLC to learn whether compensation may be possible.
Sources:
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8083836/
humanity-inclusion.org.uk/sn_uploads/document/the-waiting-list-types-injuries-2019.pdf
