Motorcyclists do not wear seat belts, so crashes typically result in a fall. But a fall from a motorcycle does not stop when the rider hits the road. The motorcycle’s momentum drags them along the pavement, resulting in friction burn known as road rash.
Motorcyclists may think they got off easily after a collision if road rash is their major injury. That may be the case when superficial road rash, but not when the burns are deeper. Such injuries can lead to long-term complications, the need for surgeries and skin grafts, inability to work while the body heals, scarring, and disfigurement.
While you focus on recovery, a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer at Salamati Law protects your rights and negotiates with insurance companies so that you may receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
What Is Road Rash and Why Is It More Serious Than It Sounds?
Road rash is a specific type of friction burn from paved surfaces. It happens when asphalt, cement or concrete rubs against the skin hard enough to physically damage it and generate heat. Depending on injury severity, the consequences can be serious.
Road rash is also usually accompanied by intense pain.
Other common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Muscle injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injury
Types and Degrees of Motorcycle Road Rash
Motorcycle road rash is a type of burn. The severity of the burn is based on its depth.
There are three main degrees of road rash:
- Superficial: Only the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis is affected. Most victims heal without incident.
- Partial thickness: The road rash affects the epidermis and the underlying dermis. Stitches may prove necessary.
- Full thickness: This type of road rash damages not only the epidermis and dermis but the fat beneath the skin. This wound is also known as an avulsion. Permanent scarring is common.
Common Causes of Road Rash in California Motorcycle Accidents
Virtually any motorcycle accident can lead to road rash. Once a vehicle strikes them, the rider may slide across the pavement.
Other common causes of motorcycle road rash injuries include:
- Distracted drivers
- Failure to yield
- Poor road conditions
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
California is the only state in which lane splitting is legal. Unfortunately, lane splitting can lead to collisions causing road rash, including the dooring of a motorcycle by a negligent driver or passenger.
Medical Complications That Can Follow a Road Rash Injury
For many motorcyclists, road rash is just the beginning of what can become a complicated medical situation. Being dragged along the road means that all sorts of debris enter the skin. Infection often follows, as does scarring. Nerve damage may also result.
Then there is traumatic tattooing. When foreign objects are deeply embedded in the skin, they may not disappear even after the rash heals. That de facto “tattoo” is a permanent and disfiguring reminder of your trauma.
In the most severe cases, the burn extends beneath the fat all damages soft tissue and bone. If an excess amount of waste products is left in the body, serious kidney damage is a possibility, as it is the kidney’s job to filter out waste products.
What To Do If You Were Injured in a Motorcycle Accident
After a motorcycle accident, call 911. Always seek immediate medical attention after a road rash incident. Go to the emergency room or an urgent care facility even if you do not think your road rash burn is serious. Without treatment, your condition can go downhill quickly.
What Compensation Can You Recover for Road Rash?
Compensation, or damages, in a road rash accident may include:
- Medical expenses, current and future
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
The amount of compensation depends primarily on injury severity and the defendant’s percentage of fault.
You must strictly follow doctor’s orders and attend all medical or physical therapy appointments. Not doing so can harm your claim, as it gives the insurer the opportunity to minimize your injuries.
Because California operates on a pure comparative negligence standard, you can receive compensation even if you are partly at fault for the accident. In theory, a plaintiff can be 99 percent at fault for an accident and still sue for that 1 percent. For practical purposes, if you are deemed 30 percent at fault for the crash by a jury, your compensation is reduced by that amount. For instance, a $100,000 settlement is reduced to $70,000.
Why You Need a Motorcycle Accident Attorney After a Road Rash Injury
Insurers are biased against motorcyclists. They are also likely to minimize the effects of motorcycle road rash injuries. You need a motorcycle accident attorney with a strong record of advocacy for motorcyclists and a track record of obtaining favorable settlements and awards.
If you suffered a serious road rash injury due to another party’s negligence or recklessness, you need the services of an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles at Salamati Law. We work on a contingency basis, so you pay no fee unless you receive compensation. Call today.
