Road Rash After a Motorcycle Accident: What You Need to Know
Riding a motorcycle comes with certain inherent injury risks due to the lack of protection afforded by the bike. One of the most common motorcycle accident injuries you can sustain is road rash. This injury can be quite painful and while it often isn’t considered serious, severe road rash injuries can potentially result in long-term complications if they aren’t treated properly.
The following overview will help you understand road rash better, including the important actions you should take to minimize the severity of your injury.
What Is Road Rash?
Road rash is a type of skin abrasion caused by the friction that gets created between your skin and the pavement during a motorcycle accident. This friction can cause the outer layer of skin to get scraped away. Road rash can range in severity from minor superficial scrapes to serious wounds that penetrate the deeper layers of your skin. It most commonly occurs in areas of the body that may potentially be exposed due to a lack of protective clothing, including the:
- Arms
- Legs
- Shoulders
- Back
- Hands
Types of Road Rash
Road rash is technically considered to be a type of burn injury since the friction between your body and the road surface generates heat that contributes to the abrasion. As with all types of burn injuries, there are different degrees of road rash:
- First-Degree – These are the most minor road rash injuries and only impact the surface skin. They often result in scrapes, bruises, minor cuts and red, irritated skin. Minimal medical care, if any, is required to treat a first-degree road rash.
- Second-Degree – These injuries affect the deeper layers of skin and can cause bleeding, swelling, and possibly damage to nerves or tendons. Second-degree road rash often requires medical treatment, and scarring is common.
- Third-Degree – These are the most severe road rash injuries. All layers of skin are damaged and it’s common for muscle or bone to become exposed. You may experience significant skin loss, open sores, bleeding and swelling. In situations where nerves are damaged, you may experience a loss of sensation, and scarring almost always occurs. Prompt medical treatment is required.
Common Road Rash Symptoms
You may experience one or more of the following symptoms after getting road rash during a motorcycle accident:
- Painful, raw skin
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Traumatic tattooing
Traumatic Tattooing
Traumatic tattooing is a common symptom associated with third-degree road rash. This condition occurs when debris from rocks, glass, dirt or metal becomes embedded in your skin. If left untreated, these fragments of debris can become permanently lodged in your skin, which can cause pigmented marks that resemble a tattoo. While traumatic tattooing isn’t particularly harmful, it may require medical treatment to prevent permanent scarring.
Common Medical Complications Associated with Road Rash
With proper treatment, road rash will typically heal properly. However, failure to treat road rash in a timely manner can potentially result in a variety of complications, including:
- Infection – Infections can develop when all embedded debris isn’t properly cleaned.
- Cellulitis – This soft tissue infection can develop underneath the skin, causing painful redness, swelling and warmth. Antibiotics are typically required to treat this condition.
- Delayed Healing – Infection, skin contamination, poorly managed wounds or failure to comply with treatments can result in a longer healing time.
- Loss of Sensation – Severe road rash can potentially damage nerves, causing a loss of sensation in the region.
- Scarring – Deeper road rash wounds can result in scarring and permanent disfigurement.
Treating Road Rash
While painful, road rash can generally be treated on your own without medical care. Home treatment for minor road rash should involve the following steps:
- Clean the wound gently with lukewarm water and mild or antibacterial soap. Remove all debris, using sterile tweezers if necessary.
- Apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
- Cover the injured area with a sterile bandage or gauze to protect the region from additional damage or potential infection.
- Change your bandages at least once a day.
- Be on the lookout for signs of infection (prolonged redness by the wound, pus, worsening pain, or fever). Seek medical attention immediately if you believe the area has become infected.
You can also use over-the-counter NSAID medication such as ibuprofen to manage the pain. If your skin feels dry, tight or itchy as the abrasion heals, apply alcohol-free moisturizing lotion to help alleviate these symptoms.
When to Seek Medical Treatment for Road Rash
Some severe cases of road rash may require medical treatment to prevent additional complications from developing. In general, it’s best to visit a doctor if:
- An infection develops
- You experience excessive bleeding
- Your skin is torn severely enough to expose muscle or bone
- There are foreign objects and debris embedded underneath your skin
- The wound is extremely large
- You develop road rash on your face, hands or feet
- Your symptoms persist for longer than a couple of weeks
Pushchak Law Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages, including any medical expenses associated with road rash. Pushchak Law can help protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Brian Pushchak has made motorcycle accident cases a primary focus of his practice. He understands the complex issues surrounding these cases, including the ways road rash can impact your life. Mr. Pushchak’s specialization in motorcycle accidents enables him to effectively estimate the total extent of your damages so you can maximize the value of your compensation.
You’ll also benefit from Mr. Pushchak’s unique Informed Decisions™ Approach focused on helping you get the best possible outcome for your case. This collaborative approach keeps you in control at all times and ensures you have all the information you need to choose the best course of action. Mr. Pushchak will listen carefully to your story to understand the details of your accident and your goals for your case. Based on this information, he’ll carefully explain the best legal strategies to achieve your desired outcome. While he will make recommendations, the final say on how we approach your legal strategy will remain yours, ensuring Mr. Pushchak remains aligned with your goals every step of the way.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Pushchak Law serves clients in Denver and the surrounding areas of Colorado.
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