What Are the Degrees of Road Rash?
Riding on a motorcycle can put you at risk for many different kinds of accidents, one of the most notable is road rash. Learning about the different degrees of road rash and the steps to take after sustaining a road rash injury, especially with help from a motorcycle accident lawyer, can make it easier to pursue the compensation you deserve.
What is road rash?
The definition of “road rash” is as follows: a friction injury that is generally caused by your skin being scraped off on a hard surface, like asphalt.
Just as an example, if you are riding your motorcycle and you hit a branch, there is a chance you might fly off your bike. And, if you fly off your bike, you could hit a bumpy road that scrapes your skin. This is considered road rash. And, while it may not sound too bad, it can be. Some road rash-related accidents can lead to long-term medical problems that make your life much more difficult.
The degrees of road rash
First-degree road rash
If you sustain first-degree road rash, you may experience:
- Minor bleeding on the part of your body/skin that was impacted/scraped
- Tenderness on the scraped portion of your body
- Small scrapes on certain parts of your skin
- Minor bruises on the scraped/impacted parts of your body
A good example of the above is as follows: you are riding your motorcycle and fall off the side of it, which causes you to scrape your knee. This results in a small bruise and a minor scrape.
You can often treat first-degree road rash at home. To do so, you may want to wash the affected area with soap and put a bandage on it.
Second-degree road rash
Second-degree road rash is similar to first-degree road rash. But, unlike first-degree road rash, second-degree road rash involves damage to the deeper layers of the skin. This can lead to the following:
- The impacted/scraped area may bleed/turn into an open wound
- The impacted/scraped area may become swollen
- The tendons and/or nerves of the impacted/scraped area may become partially visible
One example of second-degree road rash is as follows: you are flung off your motorcycle at high speed and skid along the asphalt. This creates a larger abrasion that bleeds quite a bit. You patch it up, but it remains swollen for two days.
You may be able to treat small, superficial second-degree road rash at home. But if there is a lot of bleeding or the pain continues to persist, seeing a doctor is often the best course of action.
Third-degree road rash
The final degree of road rash is third-degree. This is the most challenging form of road rash to deal with. If you sustain third-degree road rash-related injuries, you may be faced with:
- Exposed muscle and/or bone, along with the severe pain this often creates
- Deep wounds that lead to serious bleeding, persistent swelling, and the possibility of infection
- Open wounds that require thorough cleansing, as well as dense stitching
- The need for surgery to properly address those wounds, along with the damage to your bones/muscles
For example, if injuries sustained while falling off your motorcycle are more advanced than second-degree, they are likely third-degree. Third-degree wounds may bleed profusely and expose part of your muscle.
You should not treat third-degree road rash at home. Injuries of this sort often require medical treatment that only a healthcare provider can give you. On top of that, they may require medication, such as antibiotics.
What can road rash lead to?
Regardless of which type of road rash-related injury you sustain, road rash can lead to injuries that make it more difficult for you to live your life.
Just as an example, if you sustain a third-degree road rash-related injury, you may need to have stitches and might require medication.
On top of the injuries you sustain, road rash can lead to medical bills. These medical bills may come from the medical assessments, medications, and treatments you need to undergo.
You may also be forced to deal with long-term pain and suffering. This pain and suffering can come from the injuries you sustained, especially if they lead to long-term pain, severe scarring, or some form of disfigurement, among other things.
What should you do?
To avoid a road rash-related injury, you may want to do the following:
- Wear a helmet at all times while riding your motorcycle
- Wear long, thick pants that cover your legs and knees
- Wear boots that protect your shins and ankles
- Wear thick gloves that protect your hands
- Wear a thick jacket/coat on top of your shirt
You may have sustained a road rash-related injury due to someone else’s direct negligence which caused you to fall. If so, you may want to:
- Take photos/videos of the injury you sustained
- See a doctor and undergo the necessary treatment
- Hold onto all of your medical records, including the bills created by this injury
- Go over the other damages you sustained, such as the time you took off from work
- Contact a lawyer who can help you seek compensation
An experienced Alabama car accident attorney can help you explore your options further.
Get the legal help you need today
You, as a motorcyclist in Alabama, have rights. If you’ve sustained a road rash-related injury, get in touch with Prince Glover Hayes. We may be able to help you pursue any compensation available under Alabama law.