Motorcycle Accidents: Road Rash Injuries
While motorcycles are loved by many and provide a lot of benefits, the reality is that riding a motorcycle can be quite dangerous and even deadly. According to the National Safety Council, although motorcycles make a very small percentage of all registered vehicles and vehicle miles traveled in the U.S., these vehicles accounted for fourteen percent of all traffic fatalities, eighteen percent of all occupant fatalities, and four percent of all occupant injuries in 2020. Based on research, one of the most common injuries that motorcycle riders suffer in motorcycle accidents is road rash. Some people assume that road rash is not a serious injury, but the reality is that this type of injury can leave a motorcyclist suffering for a long time.
What Is Road Rash?
The term “road rash” covers a range of injuries that occur when the skin comes into contact with a hard abrasive surface. In the case of a motorcycle road accident, the skin comes into contact with the ground.
Often, people consider road rash a minor injury. However, the truth is that as much as some road rash injuries are minor, some victims suffer severe road rashes. A severe road rash injury can leave a person with several layers of skin gone and requiring surgery.
Types of Road Rash Injuries
Three different types of road rash injuries exist. They are;
- Avulsion – This is the most common road rash injury. It occurs when the skin surface is stripped away because of friction.
- Open wound – This road rash causes gaping wounds that often require stitches, grafts, or surgery to repair.
- Compression – This type of road rash injury can occur when a motorcyclist’s body gets stuck between a motorcycle and the road. Often, compression results in severe road rash.
Different Degrees of Road Rash Injury
On top of there being different types of road rash, there are different degrees that are explained below;
- First-degree road rash – This degree of road rash is the least severe and is associated with cases where only the top skin layer is affected. First-degree road rash is commonly experienced as, among others, scrapes, bruising, and redness.
- Second-degree road rash – This is more severe than a first-degree road rash. It occurs when the top layer of the skin is torn, leaving the layers beneath the skin exposed but intact.
- Third-degree road rash – This is the most severe degree of road rash. It occurs when the second layer of the skin is peeled away, leaving the underlying layers of muscle and fat exposed.
Common parts of the body where road rash occurs include;
- Face
- Thighs
- Knees
- Lower legs
- Elbows
Serious motorcycle road rash injuries can leave victims suffering for a long time. These injuries can result in, among other things, substantial medical expenses, pain and suffering, and permanent scarring. Fortunately, when a severe motorcycle road rash occurs because of another driver’s negligence, the victim may be eligible to recover compensation.
Contact a Plantation Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you suffered a road rash injury in a Florida motorcycle accident because of another driver’s negligence, it is crucial that you retain the services of a skilled lawyer. Our Plantation motorcycle accident lawyers at Lyons & Snyder can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your motorcycle road rash injury. Contact us at 954-462-8035 to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
