When a motorcyclist is in a motorcycle accident and has any of his or her skin exposed, this exposed skin—and sometimes, even covered skin—is at risk of incurring a road rash injury. Caused by the surface of the skin being scraped or dragged along a hard surface, such as asphalt, road rash can be painful and cause permanent scarring.
Types of Road Rash
Road rash injuries are friction burn and heat injuries. As such, they are characterized in the same way that thermal burn injuries are: by degrees. Just like thermal burns, a first-degree road rash injury is the least severe road rash type and causes damage only to the epidermis, or outermost layer of skin. A second-degree road rash burn penetrates slightly deeper, breaking the first level of the skin.
A third-degree road rash burn is the most severe type. In this kind of road rash injury, the skin is completely or almost completely removed, exposing fat. In a third-degree road rash burn injury, pain may be less than other degrees of injury because the nerve endings have been removed by the burn damage.
Road Rash Treatment
Road rash treatment is similar to thermal burn treatment. For minor first-degree burns, treatment may take place at home and may require bandaging, applying a moisturizer or gel, and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.
For second and third-degree burns, though, treatment is much more intensive. In fact, third-degree burns may require debridement (removal of dead skin), hospitalization, and skin graft surgeries. Skin grafting may also be needed for some second-degree burn injuries.
Recovering Compensation for a Road Rash Injury
Not only is a road rash injury painful, but it may require medical intensive care that costs thousands of dollars. When severe, road rash may prevent you from being able to return to work while you recover, and it can even cause permanent scarring and disfigurement.
While nothing can erase the past and change the fact that you’re a victim of a motorcycle accident and road rash burns, you can seek compensation to help you live with your injuries.
Types of compensation that you can recover in a claim for damages, or by filing a personal injury lawsuit against an at-fault party, include the following listed.
- Medical expenses
- Future medical and treatment costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Disfigurement
- Lost wages
An attorney can help you understand what your claim is worth, and how much compensation you may be able to recover.
Consult with an Iowa Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve suffered from road rash in a motorcycle accident attorney, you deserve the help of a legal aid who will advocate for you! At Walker, Billingsley, & Bair, our motorcycle accident attorneys are ready to get to work on your claim today! Call us now at 888-435-9886.
