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Blink 182 Donates To Burn Injury Center

Rock band Blink 182, spurred on by the recovery of drummer Travis Barker who survived a fiery aviation accident in South Carolina, has pledged to donate $100,000 to the hospital that treated his burn injuries.

Drummer Travis Barker was on a Learjet that burst into flames just before take off from a South Carolina airport. The jet was on its way to Los Angeles at the time of the accident. Two of the passengers and the two pilots died in the accident. Barker and his friend Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein survived the crash, but both suffered second and third degree burns. DJ AM died last month of what is believed to be a drug overdose. Barker was treated at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Georgia and the Grossman Burn Center in California. His band is due to perform this week in Phoenix Arizona, and has pledged proceeds from the show to the two burn centers. According to the band, the donation is out of gratitude for the two centers that treated and cared for Barker, helping him recover from his severe injuries.

It’s not easy for a person who has never suffered second or third degree burns to even image to what these feel like. A burn injury survivor will tell you that there is nothing to prepare you for that kind of searing, mind numbing pain. Every year, approximately 1.1 million in the US suffer burn injuries. Out of these, about 45,000 injuries will be severe enough to require hospital treatment. A further 4,500 victims will not survive their injuries.

Sometimes, burns occur because of the victim’s inattention or carelessness.  However, all too often, burns are caused by other people’s negligent acts. An automobile accident for instance, can cause fuel tanks to rupture, and the vehicle to explode into flames within a few seconds after impact. This happens very often in vehicles that have fuel tanks placed in a position that makes them susceptible to rupture. A post accident fire occurs in just three out of every 1000 accidents, but these injuries can be extremely serious and even fatal.  The doors may be jammed from the impact of the collision, leaving occupants with no means of escape. Often, these fires are the result of defective automobiles.  The Ford Pinto had a higher risk of fuel tank fires because these tanks were susceptible to rupture in a rear collision.

Fires can also result from other defective products. Just this year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced recalls of refrigerators and DVD players that were prone to fires. Burns don’t necessarily have to occur because of a fire. Scalding injuries can result from defective coffee makers and other malfunctioning products. There can be chemical burns that can occur when the skin is exposed to corrosive chemicals.

California burn injury lawyers, who frequently meet with these victims, know that burn injury patients have some of the longest recovery periods of any injury victims.  The initial days after a burn injury are crucial, because of the exposed skin and the higher risk of infection. Victims will need treatment in special burn centers that are equipped to treat such patients. After the patient has been declared well enough to go home, he or she still faces the prospect of extensive plastic surgery to restore the appearance of the skin. Even with cosmetic surgery, a burn injury victim may never be able to recover his or her former appearance completely.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of burn injuries. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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