Motorcycle riders face a wide range of potential injuries when they are struck by another vehicle. One of the most painful and damaging injuries in motorcycle accidents is road rash. A condition that causes a serious breakdown of the tissues of the skin, the complications can range from infection and sepsis to disfigurement and even complications affecting mobility.
If you were in a motorcycle accident caused by another party and suffered road rash or other injuries, seek out the help of a Phoenix motorcycle accident lawyer to build your case.
What Is Motorcycle Accident Road Rash?
Motorcycle accident road rash occurs when a motorcycle accident causes significant skin damage and abrasions. These conditions range in severity from minor flesh wounds to far more serious, deep dermal wounds. They occur as the skin rubs against the roadway after a crash. In some situations, a person may be thrown from the bike and slide across the pavement several feet, causing these abrasions. Other times, a car could drag the driver for several feet, causing serious implications for the skin’s layers.
Motorcycle accident road rash is most common on:
- Arms
- Legs
- Shoulders
- Hands
- Face
- Back
It is not always the result of bare or unprotected skin. The intensity of the incident can lead to the rider’s clothing burning off or ripping, exposing skin. As a result, even a rider wearing comprehensive gear may still face complications in the event of a serious injury from road rash.
Complications from Road Rash After a Motorcycle Accident
As noted, the severity of these accident injuries can range widely. In minor wounds, the surface of the skin suffers damage, such as bruising and abrasions. In a second-degree road rash incident, the dermal layers suffer damage, often leading to more significant bleeding, swelling, and damage to the nerves in that area.
Third-degree road rashes are the most severe and can lead to significant skin loss. Riders may have redness and swelling in some areas and develop a milky look on other types of open wounds. The risk of infection is very high in these types of accidents.
Potential Complications from Motorcycle Road Rash
A road rash caused by a motorcycle accident may have significant implications for a person’s health and well-being. Some examples of this include:
- Infection
- Disfigurement, including scarring and burn-like damage to the skin
- Cellulitis, a condition in which there is an infection in the soft tissues under the skin, causing swelling and limited movement
- Scar tissue formation, which can make proper movement of the area difficult and painful over time
- Delayed healing due to the deep layers of damage to the skin, often resulting in difficulty recovering
- Serious pain and suffering, often due to damage and exposure to nerves in the impact area
- Loss of sensation and function is possible, especially when there is a dramatic level of skin loss present
If you have any of these or other types of motorcycle accident injuries caused by another driver, you have the right to pursue fair compensation. With the help of an attorney, you will learn what those losses are.
Schedule a Free Consultation to Learn Your Options
The legal team at Sargon Law Group is readily available to guide victims of severe motorcycle accident road rash. Contact our legal team for a free consultation.