Road rash injuries are a common byproduct of motorcycle accidents. They typically occur when you make contact with asphalt at speed. When the skin is forcefully met with a hard and abrasive surface, the strength of the contact strips away and burns the top layers of the skin, resulting in a grazed, inflamed, and very painful wounds.
Depending on the severity of your fall, your road rash injuries could last anywhere from a few weeks to some months, or even years. You may also require surgery to repair damaged skin or to remove debris from the wounds you have sustained as a result of the crash.
Treatment and healing
For minor road rash injuries, treatment can be carried out from the comfort of your own home by applying antiseptic and antibiotic ointments to avoid infection. Airing the wound and drying it out is another effective method of treatment for less serious injuries.
For severe cases of road rash, treatment typically requires hospital assistance and professional help. If the wound is severe, there is a high chance that you may have sustained other injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident. In this scenario, a doctor will need to perform a full examination to assess whether you require surgery or have suffered broken bones or brain injuries.
As a result of a severe road rash injury, you may experience fevers and run the risk of infections. An infection site is a host to a range of undesirable symptoms such as pus, pain, and sometimes nausea. Such wounds need to be monitored and dressed accordingly. Further, a third-degree burn may require undergoing a skin graft to replace the damaged skin which may not regenerate.
Long-term issues
Minor cases of road rash are unlikely to have physical long-term effects but if you suffer from serious road rash, the effects could have an influence on your future wellbeing. This can include superficial defects like cosmetic scarring and skin mutilation, which require daily maintenance such as applying lotion and ointments.
Following an accident that results in severe road rashes, individuals can also suffer from psychological effects such as low confidence, grief, and stress disorders. These consequences can impede the overall quality of your life and can be costly and time-consuming depending on if you undergo therapeutic treatment.
How to get compensation
Being involved in any accident is a terrifying experience, and the injuries and rehabilitation which follow can only exacerbate the severity and stressfulness of the situation. Not only is it a psychologically traumatic experience, but the aftermath can incur huge costs in order to remedy the damage done to yourself, your vehicle and other people.
In many cases, if you have suffered from road rash due to someone else’s wrongdoing, you are entitled to claim compensation. The forms of compensation you may be eligible for include medical bills and compensation for time off work as well as general compensatory damages for loss sustained in the form of suffering, distress, and impairment.
In some cases, punitive damages may be awarded by the court to penalize the wrong-doer as a word of caution for being irresponsible or heedless.
How will the firm assess my case to gain full compensation?
To prove you are entitled to compensatory damages, your hospital visits and medical bills can help you to prove your case. This evidence is essential in showing that you have suffered injury from the accident that attracts certain damages.
The Husband & Wife Law team will aid you in your journey by offering advice and guidance as to the best possible course of action for you and your situation.
How do I prove negligence?
Proving negligence in the United States requires showing a breach of a legal duty that was owed to the plaintiff and the breach resulted in injury. Your motorcycle accident lawyer will help to establish that you have suffered loss as a result of a breach of duty and will negotiate, guide and inform you of your case.
If you are a victim of road rash as a result of someone else’s actions, contact us the Husband & Wife Law team to discuss your legal options.