Road Rash after a Motorcycle Accident

Road rash is a common motorcycle accident injury. Anyone who has exposed skin while riding a motorcycle can suffer this type of friction burn, which is hard to treat. Motorcyclists can end up needing skin grafts and time in the hospital to recover. They might struggle with permanent scarring which can weigh on their self-esteem and result in social isolation. Helpfully, injured motorcyclists can request compensation when they are struck by a negligent driver. Call Hoy Law to speak with our team about your accident.

What is Road Rash?

This is an abrasion injury some motorcyclists suffer when they fall off their bike and land on the road. As you skid to a stop, exposed skin can rub against cement, asphalt, or dirt. The friction burns the skin and can peel some of it back.

Like burns, road rash are classified by degree of severity:

• Superficial road rash. This injury only damages the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of skin. You can experience pain and bleeding.
• Partial thickness road rash. This type of road rash injury can damage both the epidermis and the underlying dermis.
• Full thickness injury. This injury causes damage down to the fatty layer beneath the skin. This is the most serious road rash injury.

Sometimes the skin pulls away from the body, which results in a degloving injury. This is a more serious injury with greater consequences.

Proper treatment for road rash will depend on the severity of the injury. A superficial injury might only require cleaning and ointment, while you wait for the injury to heal. More serious injuries require skin grafting and reconstruction.

Road rash is not minor. Some of the complications include chronic pain due to nerve damage and a heightened risk of infection. Motorcyclists can also struggle with permanent scarring. Any damage to the skin can result in thick, unsightly scars. An accident victim can struggle with mental anguish and emotional distress even after they have healed.

We fight for fair compensation, including medical bills and lost income for anyone hurt in a motorcycle accident. We also make sure to request compensation for non-economic damages like bodily and emotional pain. A settlement should fairly compensate anyone hurt by a dangerous or negligent motorist.

Call Hoy Law Today to Schedule a Free Consultation

A Sioux Falls motorcycle accident lawyer with our firm is ready to talk about the accident and address your concerns. We can also assess the relative strength of your case. If we think the evidence is inconclusive, we can explain why and point out what other evidence can help with a personal injury claim.

South Dakota requires that people have liability coverage when they register their vehicles. This insurance should cover a settlement when a driver negligently crashes into a motorcyclist. Anyone hurt in a crash should reach out to Hoy Law to hire a seasoned legal advocate.  Our motorcycle accident clients are entitled to fair compensation after a wreck, and we rely on decades of combined experience to get them just that.

Source:

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/road-rash