Motorcycle accidents cause serious injuries. Fractures, concussions, and back injuries are some of the most common. Many people wouldn’t consider “road rash” to be serious, but it can cause many complications.
Road rash is a type of abrasion or friction burn caused when exposed skin rubs against asphalt. Typically, one or more layers of skin get scraped off. In extreme cases, every layer could get torn off or result in a flap, requiring skin grafts to close the wound. In any event, road rash requires a trip to the doctor and careful monitoring of your symptoms. Below, our Glen Falls, NY motorcycle accident lawyer reviews why this is a devastating injury.
Road Rash Can Lead to Infection
Infection is always a possibility any time the skin is broken. With road rash, dirt and germs can get lodged into the underlying soft tissue, eventually entering the bloodstream. Other accident victims will pick up an infection in the hospital or while bathing.
Although infections often respond to antibiotics, others do not. Instead, you might get an infection resistant to antibiotics, or your condition can escalate to sepsis, which could prove deadly. Please go to the hospital as soon as possible to have your wounds cleaned and get on antibiotics, if necessary. Remember to take your medication for the duration prescribed by your doctor.
Road Rash Often Leaves Scars
Even if your wounds heal, you might end up with permanent scars. Depending on where you are injured, these scars could cause embarrassment and emotional distress. Road rash on the face, for example, might cause a person to socialize less than before. It is perfectly normal to suffer some level of emotional turmoil as a result of scarring.
Skin Grafts Are Expensive
One way to close the wound is to have a skin graft. This procedure typically involves taking skin from one part of your body and transplanting it to the wound. Unfortunately, skin grafts have a relatively highfailure rate—sometimes as high as 30%. You might need grafting more than once, and the expenses can really add up.
Road Rash is Painful
Some parts of your skin won’t feel any pain because nerve endings have been scraped off. But it’s common to feel intense pain around the affected edges of the rash. Any road rash on a joint could also limit your ability to move the affected limb. At a minimum, you’ll probably need to take pain meds to get through the day.
You Can Prevent Road Rash
The easiest way to minimize the risk is to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants whenever out on your motorcycle. Depending on the weather, you might also wear a jacket. Should you get into an accident, less of your skin is exposed to the road, and although you will probably suffer other injuries, road rash won’t be one of them.
Tristan Larson, a lawyer at our firm and a long-time motorcycle rider (of an old Honda CX-500), says that “if it’s too hot to wear leather, it’s too hot to ride.” However, he also admits to breaking that rule on occasion.
If you’ve already suffered an injury, contact Larson & Gallivan Law today. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can assist with a claim for compensation to cover the cost of your car and your pain and suffering.
