Every year there seem to be more and more motorcycles on the road. While these types of vehicles are loved by many and certainly provide benefits like reduced gas and vehicle expenses, they can be dangerous and even deadly. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Florida has one of the highest number of motorcycle accidents and deaths in the nation. In 2016 alone, there were 10,331 motorcycle accidents and 586 motorcycle deaths. There were also 8,256 motorcycle accident-related injuries and 30 motorcycle passenger deaths. Collier County and Lee County had the highest number of motorcycle collisions in the state of Florida.
As you can see by these numbers, riding a motorcycle doesn’t come without risks. And, one of the leading common injuries incurred during a motorcycle crash is road rash. While this type of injury is not as severe as other injuries like brain damage or broken bones, it can be incredibly painful and leave motorcyclists suffering for an extended period of time.
What Is Motorcycle Road Rash?
Road rash is type of skin abrasion that occurs to the exterior of the skin when the skin is scraped against something rough. In the case of motorcycle road rash, the skin is scraped against the ground, removing the outer layer of skin and leaving the underneath of the skin exposed to the elements. Many people who are in a motorcycle accident and get road rash experience metal, rocks, gravel, and other foreign object and road debris in the areas where the skin has been scraped away.
In most cases, road rash is considered a minor injury and can be treated at home. However, some road rashes can leave individuals with several layers of skin gone and require surgery and extensive medical care and treatment to properly heal. In the spring and summer, motorcycle riders are often at a higher risk of road rash in the event that they have an accident with another motorist due to the fact that most people wear less clothing during these seasons, leaving the skin exposed.
The most common places on the body where road rash occurs include:
- Lower legs
- Thighs
- Arms
- Face
- Palms
- Elbows
- Knees
- Shoulders
Symptoms Of Road Rash
When a person experiences road rash, they will have raw, red, and inflamed skin in the area where the road rash occurred. There may also be swelling, blood, and pain immediately after the accident and in the following days. Many people experience more severe pain around the edges of the road rash and less pain where the rash is the deepest.
Because road rash leaves the skin exposed to the elements, this injury can easily result in infection which can worsen symptoms and result in extended healing time. Signs of infection at the site of the road rash injury include:
- Fluid or pus
- Warmth
- Pain that increases after the first day
- Increased redness
- Excess swelling
- Drainage that has a foul odor
- Fever
- Body aches
- Chills
Complications From Road Rash
In rare and extreme cases, motorcycle road rash can result in blood poisoning. Blood poisoning happens when the injection spreads throughout the bloodstream. Blood poisoning can cause septic shock, which is a life-threatening condition that results in low blood pressure and organ failure. If you’ve experienced road rash and notice any of the above symptoms, it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible to prevent septic shock.
Different Types And Degrees Of Motorcycle Road Rash
There are three different types of road rash that can occur as a result of a motorcycle accident. Some people experience more than one type at once. These types include:
Open wound: This type of road rash is when the rash causes an open wound. An open wound road rash often requires medical treatment such as skin grafts, stitches, or in severe cases plastic surgery.
Avulsion: An avulsion is the most common type of road rash and is when the skin on the body is scraped off. An avulsion road rash may leave parts of the body under the skin exposed, such as the muscle or fat.
Compression: This type of road rash is when a part of an individual’s body is stuck between two objects, such as a motorcycle and another vehicle or a motorcycle and the street. Compression can result in broken bones, bruising, severe road rash, and muscle damage.
In addition to different types of road rash, there are also different degrees. The degrees of road rash include:
- First-degree road rash: This is the least severe form of road rash and is typically experienced as bruising, scrapes, redness, and minor bleeding. First-degree road rash can often be treated at home.
- Second-degree road rash: This type of road rash is when the scraping of the skin breaks the skin and leaves the layers under the skin exposed but still intact. Many people experience debris like glass, dirt, and gravel in their road rash wound when a second-degree road rash occurs. In most cases, individuals will need medical attention for second-degree road rash.
- Third-degree road rash: This is the most severe type of road rash and often involves severe abrasions that leave nerves, tendons, muscles, and bone exposed. Risk of infection is highest with a third-degree road rash. Permanent scarring and disfigurement can also occur. Many people will need extensive medical treatment such as skin grafting to recover.
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Treatment of Road Rash
It’s important to treat road rash as soon as possible to avoid infection and scarring. The following are steps you can take to best treat road rash caused by a motorcycle accident:
- Seek medical treatment: If the road rash is second or third degree, you should seek immediate medical attention as soon as possible. This will ensure you get the proper care needed to prevent infection and ensure proper healing.
- Wash your injuries: You should wash your road rash wounds as soon as possible following the accident to get bacteria and other potential infection-causing substances out of the wound. When washing your road rash, avoid scrubbing the injury too hard as this could result in worsening the wound.
- Remove any debris: Next, you’ll need to remove any debris that is in the wound. You can do this by using tweezers to gently lift out visible debris such as rocks, grass, gravel, or dirt.
- Put an antibiotic ointment on the wound: After thoroughly cleaning the wound and removing any debris, apply an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin to the rash. This will help kill any remaining bacteria and speed up the healing time.
- Bandage the wound: After applying an antibiotic treatment, you’ll want to cover your road rash with a lightweight medical bandage. Be sure to change the bandage once or twice a day to ensure it stays fresh and that bacteria doesn’t build up in the wound.
- Keep an eye out for injection: When changing your bandage, be sure to inspect the affected areas for potential injection such as pus or redness. Continue to use an antibiotic treatment until the wound is fully healed.
If you have third-degree road rash, you will need to go to the emergency room as soon as possible, as this is a serious injury and can leave delicate body parts exposed. Left untreated, third-degree road rash can be dangerous and even deadly.
Psychological And Emotional Suffering As A Result Of Motorcycle Road Rash
While road rash may seem less severe than other motorcycle injuries such as broken bones or brain injuries, this type of wound can still have a negative impact on a person’s overall well-being. People who experience road rash may also experience pain and suffering as a result of their injuries. Examples of potential emotional and psychological suffering a person may experience include:
- Discomfort and pain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Isolation
- Reduced career success
- Financial difficulties
Preventing Motorcycle Road Rash
The best way to prevent road rash is to drive safely and wear appropriate safety gear. This gear includes a helmet, gloves, eye protection, face shields, pants, jackets, boots, and hearing protection. Driving safely is also important. Follow all road rules and be sure to maintain the speed limit when riding a motorcycle on the road.
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With over 30 years of experience, our law firm has successfully won over $1 billion in settlements from personal injury cases by providing our clients with high-quality legal representation.
If you’ve experienced road rash as a result of a motorcycle accident caused by another driver’s negligence, it’s important to be aware of your options when it comes to compensation to cover expenses like lost wages and medical bills. Contact the motorcycle accident attorneys at Florin|Roebig today for a 100% confidential and free consultation.
