Road Rash is a Serious Motorcycle Accident Injury

By Aline Miranda on December 10, 2022

Although it may not sound like a big deal, road rash is a serious injury that may have severe medical consequences when left untreated. Road rash causes scarring, infection, and damaged tissue and it can even be fatal.

Road rash may be accompanied by additional injuries that require medical attention. If you’ve been harmed in a motorcycle crash or any type of accident that caused road rash, you’ll want to see a doctor right away.

What is Road Rash?

Road rash is an abrasion that occurs when your skin is scraped across a rough surface. It frequently results from motorcycle crashes when the victim’s momentum causes them to be dragged along the pavement.

Also known as friction burn, road rash can penetrate all the way down to the bone, damaging skin, nerves, muscles, and tissue. Any type of wound is subject to infection, and this is a real concern with road rash. Large portions of the skin may be vulnerable to bacteria, and there’s often debris that must be removed.

Motorcycle crashes are a frequent cause of road rash. Other accidents that may lead to road rash include:

• Bicycle accidents
• Skateboard or scooter falls
• Treadmill falls
• Pedestrian accidents
• Automobile crashes where the victim is ejected from the vehicle

Symptoms of Road Rash

Even if your road rash doesn’t seem bad at first, a serious infection may result if you don’t get the proper medical care. Your doctor will examine the wound, remove foreign objects such as dirt, gravel, and glass, and make sure the wound is properly dressed.

Your doctor may check your vital signs, request blood tests, and use medical imaging devices such as x-rays to determine the severity of the road rash. They may prescribe a tetanus shot, antibiotics to prevent infection, or pain medication to relieve discomfort. In extreme cases, surgery may be needed.

Symptoms of road rash include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• A wound that doesn’t heal
• A warm feeling around the wound
• Pus or fluid draining from the wound
• A foul smell
• Flu-like symptoms
• Nausea
• Muscle aches
• Fever

Road rash is classified in three degrees depending on severity:

• First degree. The outer layer of skin is red and tender. The wound is accompanied by some bleeding and bruising.
• Second degree. This is a deeper abrasion, and muscles, tendons, or nerves may be exposed. There’s pain, swelling, bleeding, and the wound may be radiating heat.
• Third degree. Large portions of the skin may have been flayed off, and there’s significant pain and bleeding. The area may have a milky appearance, and deep, severe abrasions may expose tissue all the way down to the bone.

How Your San Diego Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help

If you suffered road rash or degloving injuries in an accident caused by someone else’s careless behavior, your San Diego motorcycle accident lawyer will file a claim to help you get the money you need to pay off your medical bills and other expenses caused by the accident.

Our team at Eugene Bruno & Associates has received millions of dollars in claims for our clients. We belong to Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, and Better Business Bureau gives us an A+ rating.

Call (619) 209-6066 to schedule a FREE case evaluation today. At Eugene Bruno & Associates, you don’t pay anything unless we win your case.