Motorcycle accidents often result in devastating injuries for those involved. The reality is that motorcyclists do not have the same level of protection that those inside traditional passenger vehicles have when a crash occurs. Sometimes, though, motorcyclists only sustain cuts and abrasions after a crash occurs. However, these injuries must be treated properly. If motorcycle accident cuts and abrasions are not promptly treated, this could lead to several long-term complications, including infections, for the motorcyclist.
Road rash is a type of friction burn or skin abrasion that happens anytime a person’s skin rubs against something rough (i.e. the road). This type of injury can occur in a number of ways but will typically be referred to as road rash in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident or a bicycle accident.
After a motorcyclist is struck by a vehicle or otherwise crashes their motorcycle, any exposed skin that makes contact with the roadway can suffer from a friction burn or skin abrasion. Even though this is considered a superficial injury to the skin, it can still be incredibly painful and lead to serious infections as well as scarring and disfigurement. Road rash causes the outer tissue of skin to be rubbed away. Sometimes, an accident can take away several layers of skin and even require skin grafting surgery to help proper healing.
It is important to properly treat road rash or any other type of skin abrasion or laceration in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident. First, we strongly encourage every motorcycle accident victim to seek immediate medical care from a doctor. Often, the signs and symptoms of motorcycle accident injuries are not immediately apparent, only showing up in the hours or days that follow the crash. By seeking prompt medical attention, a motorcycle accident victim is ensuring their well-being by allowing the doctor to conduct an evaluation and hopefully rule out any hidden injuries.
For relatively minor road rash injuries, these can be treated without going to a hospital. However, even after treating the injuries with the steps listed below, this situation needs to be monitored for signs of infection or additional damage to the body.
Contact our Denver personal injury lawyers today.