If you are a rookie hitting the road for the first time, veteran bikers are sure to warn you about a lot of things, and road rash after a motorcycle accident is probably one of them. This painful aftermath of a crash is almost always a factor, and even with the best gear, you are still at risk of pavement burns.
In fact, road rash is the single most common non-fatal injury in motorcycle crashes, and it can happen whenever a rider is thrown or slides across the pavement. But is it serious? Keep reading to find out.
Because riders lack the steel enclosure of a car, friction between exposed skin and the asphalt can quickly strip away layers of tissue after an accident. But the severity of road rash directly depends on the speed of the crash, the road’s surface, and whether the rider was wearing protective gear.
Casual clothes like jeans and t-shirts can shred in seconds, whereas specialized moto-clothes help prevent the skin from making contact with the road. But rest assured, road rash after a motorcycle accident is not just a minor scrape. This injury ranges from mild irritation to a severe medical emergency. Let us review the different degrees of road rash, including:
You may see mild scrapes, redness, and light bruising. At this stage, road rash can usually be treated at home with proper cleaning to avoid infection.
Here, the wound bleeds and you may experience severe swelling. The top layer of skin is broken, and muscles, tendons, or nerves may be exposed. Second-degree road rash often requires medical attention and leaves behind permanent scars.
At this stage, you will have experienced deep, gaping wounds where skin is completely flayed away, exposing bone and muscle. These wounds are severely painful and usually require hospitalization, surgery, or skin grafts.
Absolutely! If another person’s negligence caused you to crash and suffer road rash, you should file a claim to recover your medical bills and lost wages, and to seek compensation for your pain and suffering. Tennessee operates under a fault-based insurance system, meaning the at-fault party’s liability insurance is responsible for covering your accident-related losses, including medical treatments.
Road rash after a motorcycle accident can take up to two months to heal, and your medical bills may skyrocket in the most severe cases. Thankfully, the skilled personal injury legal team at Ponce Law has experience fighting for our motorcycle clients’ rights.
We are the only law firm in Middle Tennessee to receive the Torch Award for ethical commerce, and our team is armed with RoadProof. We can download your accident footage from TDOT cameras and prove the other party was to blame for the crash. Call for a free consultation and let us discuss your legal options.