Due to the lack of safety equipment and their forced reliance on heavy clothing, motorcyclists tend to face devastating, life-changing injuries in a vehicle collision. From head trauma to compound fractures to burn injuries, many riders will struggle to recover after a crash with a larger vehicle. One of the more common injuries is road rash.
What is road rash?
Road rash is a phrase used to describe a serious skin abrasion. It refers to an area of the body where a section of the skin has been scraped off. The injury can occur due to a wide range of mishaps such as falling on the pavement while running or riding a bicycle or physically sliding along the road surface after a high-speed motorcycle collision.
The affected area generally looks raw and it might bleed. If the injury is deep enough to cause damage to the skin, underlying muscles and nerve cells medical attention might be required to treat the road rash.
What are the common symptoms?
While many people can visually identify the effected areas of damaged skin, there are common symptoms that can alert an injured rider to a serious condition, including:
- Increased pain after the first day
- Swelling and increased redness
- The affected area is warm to the touch
- Pus or foul-smelling fluids drain from the area
Additionally, as an infection takes hold, an injured rider might begin to experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills and general body aches.
In severe cases, a road rash injury can lead to blood poisoning and septic shock. After a motorcycle collision, it is imperative that you learn about your options for monetary compensation from an experienced legal professional.