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North Denver Motorcycle Injury Attorneys

Motorcycle Road Rash

Thousands of people receive injuries each year in motorcycle accidents. Road rash is one of the most common injuries. Road rash is an informal term used to describe abrasions sustained by riders from sliding on the asphalt. The injury can be either an avulsion or compression injury and has several degrees of severity ranging from uncomfortable to quite debilitating.

Avulsion injuries happen when skin is stripped away by the road surface when a rider is thrown from, or dragged by, the motorcycle. Compression injuries result when part of the body is trapped between the bike and the road during an accident. This can cause additional bruising or crushing of the body part.

Motorcycle road rash can be classified into one of three different categories of injuries. They are ranked similarly to the manner in which burns are classified. These include:

  • First-degree Motorcycle Road Rash – This type of injury is similar to rug burn, where the skin becomes reddened. First-degree road rash is not a dangerous medical condition, nor does it require medical treatment.
  • Second-degree Motorcycle Road Rash – When the skin becomes broken, exposing underlying layers of tissue, motorcycle road rash is classified as second-degree. This type of injury could result in scarring. Simple over-the-counter medical treatments are typically sufficient to care for second-degree motorcycle road rash.
  • Third-degree Motorcycle Road Rash – The most serious type of motorcycle road rash, third-degree injuries occur when there is complete breakage of all five layers of skin causing fat to be exposed. Third-degree road rash is very painful. The injury requires immediate medical attention, and is more susceptible to infection and complications than first or second-degree road rash.

 

Treatment for Motorcycle Road Rash

In the less complex cases of motorcycle road rash, there are several simple treatments a person can administer. If the injury is third-degree, however, a victim must seek medical attention immediately.

To avoid infection, first and second-degree cases of motorcycle road rash need to cleaned as soon as possible. To reduce the risk of scarring, avoid scrubbing the area when cleaning the wound. After washing the wounds, apply ointment and a bandage.

Due to its increased severity, third-degree motorcycle road rash necessitates more advanced medical treatment. Permanent damage to underlying muscles and other tissues can be caused by delaying medical treatment. Additionally, third-degree cases may also require surgery. It may also be necessary for a third-degree road rash injury victim to be hospitalized for several weeks and endure physical therapy to fully recover.

 

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At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.

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