Degrees of Road Rash After Car or Motorcycle Accidents

Road rash is a common injury that occurs in all types of accidents. You could lose your balance on your bike and scrape your knee, be ejected from your car, or hit the pavement after falling from your motorcycle.

Depending on the circumstances of your road rash injury, it could have severe and, sometimes, life-threatening consequences. This article covers what you need to know about road rash, including factors that can impact its severity, the types of road rash, complications, treatment, and your legal rights.

You may be eligible for compensation if you’ve suffered severe injuries from an accident. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers are ready to help you seek justice.

Factors Affecting the Severity of Road Rash

Road rash is an injury that occurs when the skin rubs against a rough surface, often following a car or motorcycle accident. The road rash degress depends on various factors.

Speed of Impact

How fast you were going before the accident can affect the depth and extent of your road rash. The quicker you go, the more likely your damages will be more profound. The deeper your damages, the more serious medical treatment you’ll need.

Consider the damage to a car during a car crash. If you go five mph and run into a wall, the damage will be far less than if you smash it at 50. The same principle can be applied to your body when facing road rash injuries—the speed of the impact matters.

Surface of Impact

The surface you land on is another factor that can impact road rash degrees.

• Pavement: Smoother surfaces can lead to more even injuries, almost like a burn.
• Gravel: Gravel is rough and can cause more jagged wounds. Additionally, it can become embedded in the wound.
• Glass: Glass can pierce the skin and cause serious wounds. It is sharp and easily gets caught in the skin.

All road rash injuries are painful, and the surface of the impact may affect their severity.

Force of Impact

The force of the impact can affect the severity of road rash in different ways. If you’re in an accident, how hard you were hit can impact how hard you hit the ground.

If you are ejected from a motorcycle and fall 20 feet, you will hit the ground harder than if you lost balance and fell 5 feet from a stationary motorcycle. This difference in impact force can mean the difference between a minor elbow scrape and other serious injuries potentially needing stitches, skin grafting, or severe medical attention.

Additionally, the harder you hit the surface, the deeper objects can become embedded in the wound, which can also cause a medical emergency.

Personal Factors

Personal factors also play a part in the severity of road rash injuries.

• Apparel: Protective gear, such as helmets, leather jackets, gloves, boots, and other abrasion-resistant materials, can limit the damage to your body.
• Skin thickness: The skin thickness of the affected area can impact how deep the wounds are.
• Overall health: If you are in good health, you may face less serious road rash injuries.
• Age: Your age can determine how well you can weather and recover from injuries.

Types of Road Rash

Not all types of road rash are equal. Some are more severe than others, so here are the different degrees to watch for.

First-Degree Road Rash

While painful, first-degree road rash is superficial and only involves the top layer of the skin. Characteristics of first-degree road rash include:

• Bruises
• Minor cuts
• Slight bleeding
• Tenderness

Even if there are abrasions, they are unlikely to scar because they only impact the outer layer. The most significant risk for first-degree injuries is infection, so clean the wound with soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment. While infection can typically be treated at home, you should seek medical attention to be certain.

Second-Degree Road Rash

Second-degree road rash can lead to more significant injuries. It involves damage to both the inner and outer layers of the skin. Common symptoms of second-degree road rash include:

• Swelling
• Cuts and exposed skin
• Broken bones
• Bleeding
• Exposed nerves
• Exposed tendons

If the skin is significantly damaged, second-degree road rash injuries will likely scar. Because the injuries go beyond the surface level, medical professionals may need to intervene. They can properly clean the area, assess the damage, and recommend a treatment plan.

Third-Degree Road Rash

Third-degree road rash is the most severe. It involves damage to all layers of the skin and potentially the underlying tissues. Common signs include:

• Loss of skin
• Deep wounds
• Broken bones
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Exposed muscles
• Exposed bone

Third-degree road rash will likely cause permanent scarring. Many victims also face disfigurement, nerve damage, severe pain, and more from their injuries, drastically altering their lives.

If you believe you are suffering from a third-degree road rash, it’s critical to seek medical attention immediately. Timely intervention from a medical professional can help prevent bacterial infection, sepsis, and permanent damage that can reduce your overall quality of life.

Complications of Road Rash Injuries

All the degrees of road rash may lead to complications. Depending on the type, it can significantly impact your daily life.

Infection

Road rash can lead to bacterial infection if the wound is not cleaned and properly cared for. Your road rash wounds may be infected if you experience the following symptoms.

• Swollen and red skin around the wound
• Discharge or pus from the wound
• Fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms

Infection can pass into your blood and cause sepsis. Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning, can lead to organ failure and death if not treated.

You can also develop necrotizing fasciitis, which can cause the loss of limbs. To prevent infection, take wound care and hygiene seriously.

Scarring

Scarring and permanent disfigurement is another risk of road rash injuries. It can cause a lot of emotional trauma for victims, serving as a constant reminder of their accident.

Second—and third-degree road rash injuries increase the potential for scarring. These injuries impact deep tissues, which can lead to permanent nerve damage in the area. This damage can result in the loss of sensation, tingling, and more.

Tetanus

Road rash injuries are rarely clean, and if the wound is contaminated with dirt or debris, it can cause tetanus. This bacteria lives on metal objects, dust, soil, and other surfaces and enters the body through open wounds like severe road rash injuries.

Tetanus infections are rare but severe. Getting a tetanus shot as part of your road rash medical treatment can help reduce the risk of contracting this disease.

Treatment and Prevention

Consider the following treatment and prevention steps if you suffer road rash injuries.

Medical Attention

While you may think it’s only first-degree road rash, it’s still important to seek medical attention immediately. A doctor can assess the severity of the wound and help you receive appropriate medical treatment.

Additionally, they can assess your overall health. You may have incurred additional injuries during the accident, like a concussion, broken bones, etc., in addition to the road rash.

By seeking treatment, you have additional documentation of the injuries you suffered, which can help you if you seek legal action for the harm you endured.

Cleaning and Wound Care

A study published in the National Library of Medicine shares that road rash cases should be treated similarly to burn cases. [1]

Immediately after sustaining the injury, clean the affected area. Wash your hands with soap and water before you touch it. Gloves can be used as an additional layer of precaution.

Get a clean cloth and gently clean the area using antibacterial soap. If there is superficial debris in the wound, you can try to remove it with tweezers. If it’s deeply embedded, do not attempt to remove it yourself. You may cause more damage.

If the injury is severe, seek medical treatment. A professional can help clean and sanitize the wound to prevent infection.

Stitches or Bandages

You may need stitches to help your skin heal if you have an open wound. Medical professionals can assess your situation and determine the required treatment.

You may also need to cover the wound with bandages to provide compression and stop the bleeding. Bandages can also help prevent germs from entering the wound. With a road rash, you want to do what you can to avoid infection and potential complications.

Prevention

There are steps you can take to help prevent road rash injuries from occurring.

• Wear protective gear: You want to minimize the amount of exposed bare skin. Wearing protective clothing like helmets, leather jackets, thick pants, boots, and other thicker clothes can help.
• Wear bright colors: Motorcycle riders can wear bright, reflective colors to help other drivers spot them.
• Avoid hazardous conditions: Pavements wet with rain, snow, and ice may lead to increased road rash injuries.
• Drive vigilantly: Pay attention to other drivers and adhere to the rules of the road. Do not ride between lanes or stay in other driver’s blind spots.

Road burn injuries can have serious consequences, so it’s best to take precautions to prevent them.

What Are My Rights After a Road Rash Injury?

If you have experienced road rash injuries, you have rights and may be able to seek compensation for your injuries.

Personal Injury Claims

If another person’s negligence caused the road rash, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover compensation for:

• Medical bills: Costs for medical expenses, surgeries, ambulance rides, etc., that were incurred as a result of the car accident or motorcycle crash.
• Pain and suffering: The impacts of a car or motorcycle accident can go beyond physical injuries. You can recover damages for the emotional trauma that you faced.
• Lost wages: If you cannot work, you could get money for your lost income. It can also be future wages if your ability to work has been impacted.
• Property damage: You could be compensated if your car or motorcycle was damaged in the accident.

To succeed in your claim, you must prove liability. A personal injury attorney can help investigate your case and build a strong argument for compensation.

Seeking Legal Advice

You should consult with a personal injury lawyer after a road rash injury. They can help you explore your legal options.

Personal injury lawyers understand what legal means to pursue to help you obtain maximum compensation for your injuries. They walk you through the legal process, including any statute of limitations on your claim.

Once they take the case, a car or motorcycle accident lawyer will serve as your advocate throughout the legal process. Most motorcycle accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they will only get compensated if they win your case. This arrangement motivates them to fight for your rights and secure a favorable outcome.

Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for Legal Assistance

Road rash is extremely painful, and its effects can be far-reaching. If you or your loved ones have suffered road rash injuries, you have legal rights.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you understand your options and pursue compensation for damages. Call (888) 424-5757 for your free consultation, or fill out our contact form.

References: [1] National Library of Medicine

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.