Road rash is one of the most common injuries motorcyclists face after being in an accident, and it can be quite painful. When a rider is thrown or dragged along the pavement, layers of skin, and sometimes even deeper tissue, can be severely scraped away by the rough road surface. Unlike car occupants, people on motorcycles have little to protect them aside from light gear, which makes them especially vulnerable to abrasive injuries even at low speeds.
Understanding motorcycle road rash is important for riders hoping to get the treatment they need as well as those who are seeking fair compensation in a St. Louis motorcycle accident claim when someone else is at fault.
Degrees of Road Rash
Not all road rash injuries are the same. Doctors often classify them by how severe they are.
First-Degree Road Rash
These are the mildest abrasions. You’ll see light scrapes, general redness, and a little discomfort along the injured area, but the wound doesn’t break through to deeper layers of skin.
Second-Degree Road Rash
These injuries go deeper into the skin, leaving torn tissues, bleeding, swelling, and sometimes even bits of rocks or dirt stuck in the wound. Treatment is more involved because it’s more painful and the risk of infection increases.
Third-Degree Road Rash (Severe)
The most serious cases go beyond skin – layers of fat or even muscle can be exposed or damaged. Infection is a major concern, and doctors often need to use stitches, surgery, or skin grafts to help the body heal correctly.
Potential Complications of Road Rash
Road rash is more serious than many people think and should never be brushed off as “just a scrape.” By taking these injuries seriously from the beginning, you give yourself the best chance of avoiding long-term or even permanent consequences. Below are some of the potential complications you can face:
- Infection: Open wounds can lead to serious infections, like staph or MRSA.
- Scarring and Disfigurement: Serious road rash, especially third-degree cases, commonly results in permanent scarring.
- Loss of mobility: As the skin heals and scars start to form, it can lead to feelings of tightness and make mobility difficult.
- Foreign material in the wound: Stones, dirt, or road debris can get stuck inside the road rash and make it harder for the wound to heal.
- Psychological trauma: Besides physical wounds, road rash injuries can lead to significant anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms.
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you should always seek medical treatment right away, even if you think the “only” injury you have is road rash. It can be more serious than you realize.
Why You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
After a motorcycle accident, recovering from a road rash injury is difficult enough without having to worry about insurance claims and legal concerns. Without a motor vehicle accident lawyer in St. Louis, many victims risk being brushed aside or settling for far less than their injuries truly deserve. Here’s why you need an experienced legal team and how they can help you:
Insurance Companies Don’t Always Take Road Rash Seriously
In many situations, insurance companies and their attorneys will argue that your injuries aren’t that serious. As a result, they will make low settlement offers that don’t even begin to cover your expenses and future losses. Your lawyer can present your medical documents and other losses to show them just how severe the situation is.
They’ll Help Maximize Your Compensation
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney adds up every loss – medical costs, scarring, emotional suffering, lost wages – and demands you receive the full amount you deserve. Having legal representation puts direct pressure on insurance companies to treat you fairly from day one.
A St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Is Ready to Go to Trial If Needed
If the insurance company refuses to offer what you’re truly owed, your attorney will not hesitate to fight your case in court. They know the legal strategies and can present medical evidence, expert opinions, and details about how these injuries have impacted your life directly to a jury if necessary.
By choosing to work with a motorcycle accident lawyer in St. Louis, you can focus on healing without worrying about the confusing legal aspects of the situation. Let us help you get what you deserve. Call today to schedule a free consultation.