Is Road Rash a Serious Injury?

Motorcycle accidents can lead to serious injuries, and one of the most common sustained by motorcyclists is road rash. In a 2020 study of road rash victims, 58% of the victims required surgery. This dangerous condition can result in physical and emotional pain for victims and substantial medical expenses.

If you suffer road rash in a motorcycle accident in Louisiana, you have the right to hold the person who caused your injuries accountable. The Lafayette motorcycle crash lawyers at Dudley DeBosier can help you understand your legal options after a collision to help you pay for your damages and help you on the path to recovery.

What is Motorcycle Road Rash?

Road rash is a term used to describe the skin and soft tissue injuries that can occur when a motorcyclist is thrown from their bike and slides or skids along the pavement. Road rash is often treated as a second-degree burn in how it damages the skin and muscle.

When road rash occurs, friction between the skin and the road surface can cause various injuries, ranging from minor abrasions to severe lacerations.

The typical hospital stay for road rash is 12 days, but may range between 1-22 days, depending on the severity of the injury. According to the study mentioned above, 18% of road rash patients also suffered an infection as a result of their injuries.

Types of Road Rash Injuries

Road rash injuries can be classified into several categories, including avulsion wounds, open wounds, and traumatic tattoos. Each type of injury can cause complications and requires a different recovery process.

• Avulsion Wounds: Avulsion wounds occur when the skin is torn away from the body, exposing underlying tissue, muscle, and bone. This injury requires extensive medical treatment, including skin grafts, to heal properly.
• Open Wound: An open wound road rash injury involves a break in the skin, ranging from a minor scrape to a deep gash. Open wounds can be susceptible to infection and may require stitches or other medical interventions to close the wound and promote healing.
• Traumatic Tattoos: Traumatic tattoos occur when debris such as dirt, rocks, glass, or metal becomes embedded in the skin during severe forms of road rash. These pieces of debris can become permanent and cause the affected skin to appear bruised. Treatment can include wound debridement to remove all foreign items and prevent infection.

Degrees of Road Rash Injuries

Road rash injuries can be classified by severity into first, second, and third-degree injuries. First-degree road rash involves minor abrasions, which heal quickly without significant medical intervention.

Second-degree road rash damages the outer layer of skin and may require medical attention to prevent infection and promote healing.

Third-degree road rash is the most severe, removing multiple layers of skin down to the muscle or bone, requiring extensive medical treatment and resulting in permanent scarring or disfigurement.

Complications of Road Rash

From infections and scarring to nerve damage and psychological trauma, road rash injuries are not just painful; they can also cause complications after the initial impact.

• Nerve and Muscle Damage: Nerve and muscle damage is a common complication of severe road rash injuries. The force of impact and friction can cause deep tissue damage, resulting in loss of sensation, numbness, or tingling in the affected area. In some cases, the damage can be so severe that it leads to chronic pain or loss of function.
• Infection: Road rash injuries often result in open wounds, which can become infected if not treated promptly. Infection can lead to complications such as delayed healing, increased pain, and life-threatening sepsis.
• Temporary or Permanent Disability: Road rash injuries can vary in severity, causing complications leading to temporary or permanent disability. Severe injuries can lead to loss of mobility or function, making it challenging for the victim to work or engage in daily activities. Temporary disability can result in missed work, medical expenses, and emotional distress.
• Mental Health Challenges: The pain and trauma associated with road rash injuries can lead to mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially when road rash injuries lead to permanent disfigurement.

How a Motorcycle Attorney Can Help

If you’ve suffered road rash due to a motorcycle crash in Louisiana, one of the skilled personal injury attorneys at Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Our experienced team understands the unique challenges motorcycle accident victims face, including bias from responding police officers, insurance companies and juries. We are committed to providing aggressive representation to help get you a fair settlement for your injuries.

Contact Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation to discuss your motorcycle road rash injury case.

This content has been reviewed by Chad Lederman, Director of Legal Operations at our New Orleans office.

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