From taking a fall while running or biking, most of us have experienced some type of road rash. However, nothing compares to the road rash that can occur in motorcycle accidents. Beyond the immediate pain, motorcycle road rash victims also face the possibility of infection, long-term scarring, skin grafts, sepsis, and many other adverse effects.
Severe road rash injuries are traumatic on many levels and expensive to treat. Motorcyclists who have suffered road rash due to the negligence of another should aggressively pursue maximum compensation for all of their losses with help from an experienced motorcycle accident attorney.
In this article, we break down the seriousness of road rash in Nebraska motorcycle accidents and everything you need to know about collecting compensation for your road rash injuries. If you need immediate legal assistance, don’t hesitate to call our Omaha motorcycle accident lawyers at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, LLC at (402) 241-5020 or contact us online for a free consultation.
What Is Road Rash?
Road rash is a commonly used term for a type of abrasion you suffer when coming into contact with the road due to an accident. It occurs when part of your body scrapes against the ground, damaging (or, in severe cases, removing) your skin.
It can be an immensely painful injury and, depending on the severity, may be difficult and expensive to treat. Below, we’re going to take a closer look at road rash, including common causes, treatment, and what to do if you experience a road rash injury.
Degrees of Road Rash Injury
The degrees of road rash are similar to the degrees of a burn injury. First-degree is the least serious type of road rash (what you would experience when skinning your knee, for example), while third-degree road rash represents serious trauma to the skin and underlying tissue. Unfortunately, the majority of road rash injuries in motorcycle accidents are third-degree.
Medical professionals diagnose road rash according to the following classifications:
- First-degree: This level of road rash is little more than a bad scrape. The skin will be red and there might be some light bleeding. Treatment usually requires no more than cleaning the wound, applying a bandage, and keeping it clean while it heals.
- Second-degree: Second-degree road rash is much more serious, occurring when the top layer of skin – the epidermis – is broken. While this is extremely painful, it rarely requires extensive treatment. However, it is vital to keep the wound clean to avoid infection.
- Third-degree: At this level, road rash is beyond painful – it’s a medical emergency. It means the second layer of skin, the dermis, has been broken, potentially exposing fat, tissue, and even bone. Third-degree road rash calls for immediate and intensive medical treatment.
When motorcycle accidents result in serious road rash, particularly second- and third-degree, there is also an increased chance of other injuries. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries may all occur when a motorcyclist strikes the asphalt. Multiple factors can impact the seriousness of road rash and other injuries in a motorcycle accident.
What Factors Affect the Severity of Road Rash?
The reason motorcycle accidents often result in second- and third-degree road rash is because of how fast motorcyclists are traveling when they hit the pavement. If you fall off your bike while traveling 15 miles per hour, the road rash can be serious and painful. Falling off a motorcycle while traveling 60 miles per hour, on the other hand, can result in catastrophic injuries.
While speed is the number one factor in how serious road rash is, it is far from the only factor. Others include weather conditions, the type of surface you land on, and how far you slide on the surface.
Also, the level of protective gear worn has a great deal of influence over the severity of road rash. A heavy-duty jacket, pants, and other gear may not keep you from all injuries, including road rash, but wearing protective clothing can go a long way toward lessening the seriousness of your injuries.
Treatment for Road Rash Injuries
Road rash has a similar classification to burn injuries. As with burns, the treatment of road rash depends on the severity of the injury.
With first-degree road rash, cleaning and bandaging the wound is often sufficient treatment.
With second-degree road rash, there is often debris embedded in the wound, which can increase the risk of infection. You must make sure that all of this debris is fully removed, and you should apply a cream or salve to the wound as it heals. There is also a greater chance of permanent scarring with second-degree road rash.
The worst is third-degree road rash, which typically requires immediate, extensive medical treatment. Repairing the damage may require surgery or even skin grafts. Also, the risk of complications, such as infection and scarring, becomes even greater with third-degree cases. In the worst situations, victims of third-degree road rash can develop sepsis, which is an infection of the blood. This type of infection can be fatal.
Beyond your well-being, receiving appropriate medical treatment is often integral to the success of a motorcycle accident claim. If the accident that led to your injuries was caused by the negligence of another driver, you need to show medical records and that you took your injuries seriously immediately after the accident. If you wait, it could cause the insurance company – and possibly a jury – to believe your injuries were not as serious as you claim.
Road Rash Compensation After a Nebraska Motorcycle Crash
If another party’s negligence causes a motorcycle accident in Nebraska, the injured rider may be entitled to compensation for the losses associated with road rash. The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injuries, necessary medical care, recovery time, and the long-term impact on the victim’s life.
Economic damages compensate for measurable financial losses, which may include:
- Emergency room and hospital bills
- Surgery, skin grafts, and other medical procedures
- Prescription medications and follow-up treatment
- Rehabilitation and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Other accident-related out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages address losses without a fixed monetary value, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Reduced quality of life
Factors That Can Diminish the Value of Compensation
Several issues can reduce the amount an injured motorcyclist may recover, including:
- Shared fault: Nebraska’s modified comparative negligence rule can reduce compensation when the rider shares responsibility for the accident.
- Gaps in medical treatment: Delays or missed appointments may raise questions about injury severity.
- Failure to follow medical advice: Ignoring treatment recommendations can negatively affect a claim.
- Insufficient documentation: Missing medical records, bills, or proof of lost income can make losses harder to establish.
- Disputes over liability: Uncertainty about who caused the accident may affect recovery.
- Insurance policy limits: Available coverage may restrict the amount of compensation obtainable.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
Motorcycle accidents are among the most traumatic types of vehicle crashes. Riders are at a significantly higher risk of serious injury and death in an accident, making the carelessness of another driver all the more dangerous.
The attorneys at Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop have over 268 years of combined experience representing clients in accident claims, including motorcyclists. We are committed to holding negligent drivers accountable and pursuing the full compensation you deserve for your injuries.
If you suffered road rash or any other serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, please call (402) 241-5020 today for a FREE consultation.
