Get Legal Help If You Are Suffering From Road Rash Injuries
Road rash is one of the most common injuries seen after a motorcycle accident in Seattle. Motorcycle road rash occurs after a rider has been thrown from his bike and slides along the surface of the road. The asphalt rips through clothing and makes contact with the skin.
While motorcyclists can take preventative care, such as wearing a proper helmet and jacket, road rash cannot always be prevented.
When motorcyclists are injured by road rash, they can be left with long-term damage and suffering. You should always speak to an attorney who can help you get the compensation you deserve if someone else was at fault for your accident. At Pendergast Law, our Seattle motorcycle accident attorneys have experience with road rash injuries. For a free consultation, please call 888-539-9211.
Washington Motorcycle Accident Recoveries
- $225,000 recovery for leg fracture in Seattle motorcycle accident.
- $175,000 recovery for a man who injured his clavicle and ribs when a car swerved and knocked him off his motorcycle in Bellevue.
Degrees Of Motorcycle Road Rash
First-degree road rash is the most minor of the three degrees of road rash, but that doesn’t mean it can’t turn into something much more serious. First-degree road rash appears as very red skin, like a bad sunburn. Minor scrapes may be visible, but the road rash typically does not break the skin in these cases. While first-degree road rash might not seem to require medical treatment, it’s important for accident victims to keep the area clean and covered and follow up with a doctor immediately if any infections seem to be forming, or the skin is not healing.
Second-degree road rash occurs when the force of the impact and subsequent sliding along the pavement break through the surface of the skin. Wounds appear as bruising, deep cuts, and serious scrapes, and debris can also get lodged in the affected area. While this is a more serious type of road rash, the underlying layers of skin are usually not affected. There are many lotions and medicated creams that can help with second-degree road rash, but motorcyclists should still seek medical treatment to ensure that the deeper layers of skin have not been damaged. Visiting a doctor also documents the injury, which can prove useful in a personal injury claim.
Third-degree road rash is the most painful. This is a severe injury that tears through all three layers of skin to expose fat, tissue, muscle and even bone. Not only is there a lot of trauma at the site of the wound, including excessive bleeding, but debris can become lodged deep within the skin. Third-degree road rash requires immediate medical attention. It won’t take long for an infection to form, which can lead to dangerous conditions, possibly ending in amputation. Third-degree road rash usually results in permanent scarring, which can mean higher medical bills and an even longer-lasting impact on the injured biker.
Claiming Compensation For Road Rash Injuries
Road rash may not seem that serious at first, but it can lead to much greater injuries. It can leave motorcyclists with high medical bills, and possibly an inability to work to pay those bills. But if another driver was at fault for the road rash, as is so often the case with motorcycle accidents, the injured motorcyclist may be able to seek compensation.
If you suffered degloving or serious second- or third-degree road rash in a motorcycle accident near Seattle, speak to a qualified attorney at Pendergast Law as soon as possible. If someone else was to blame for the accident, we can help you find them negligent, and work to get you the compensation you may be entitled to. Call us today toll-free at 888-539-9211.