What Are the Short- and Long-Term Complications of Road Rash?

Road rash is one of the most common injuries motorcyclists can suffer when they’re involved in accidents. It can occur anywhere on the body that exposed skin comes into contact with asphalt or pavement. In some cases, it can even happen to covered areas of the skin if clothing or protective gear rips or comes off during a crash.

While road rash usually isn’t as dangerous or life-threatening as other types of motorcycle accident injuries, it still requires medical attention, and many sufferers face long roads to recovery. Keep reading to learn the short- and long-term complications of road rash, tips for preventing it, and how a lawyer can help you get compensation for road rash-related damages after a motorcycle accident.

Short-Term Complications of Road Rash

Short-term complications of road rash from a motorcycle accident can vary in severity, depending on the depth and extent of the injury. Common complications include:

Pain and Discomfort: Road rash can cause extreme pain and tenderness at the injury site. The deeper the damage to skin and tissue, the more severe the pain.
Infection: Dirt, debris, and bacteria can enter wounds caused by road rash, leading to infection. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, warmth, discharge, and increased pain around the wound.
Bleeding: Depending on the severity, road rash can lead to persistent bleeding, especially if larger blood vessels are affected or if the wound isn’t properly treated.
Swelling and Inflammation: The body’s natural response to injury includes swelling and inflammation, which can cause stiffness and limit mobility around the injured area.
Tissue Damage: In more severe cases, underlying tissues such as muscles, tendons, or nerves may be damaged, leading to further complications.
Delayed Healing: Factors such as improper wound care, infection, or underlying health conditions can delay the healing process, leading to prolonged discomfort and increased risk of long-term complications.
Loss of Skin Integrity: Severe road rash can lead to significant loss of skin, requiring skin grafts or more extensive wound care.

Proper wound care, including cleaning the wound, applying antibiotics, and covering it with sterile bandages, is essential to minimize these complications.

Long-Term Complications of Road Rash

Road rash doesn’t always heal fully or properly, and even when it does, victims often face complications that can persist for months, years, or even the rest of their lives. Potential long-term complications include:

Scarring and Disfigurement: Road rash can result in permanent scars, which may be thick, raised, or discolored. Severe cases can lead to keloid formation, which is where the scar tissue extends beyond the original wound.
Nerve Damage: If the road rash affects deeper layers of skin and underlying tissues, it may damage nerves, leading to numbness, tingling, or chronic pain in the affected area.
Loss of Mobility: Scarring, particularly in joints or areas of frequent movement, can cause skin contractures, leading to reduced mobility or flexibility in the affected area.
Skin Sensitivity: The affected area may become more sensitive to temperature changes, pressure, or touch, potentially causing discomfort or pain with routine activities.
Psychological Impact: Visible scars and disfigurement can lead to emotional and psychological distress, including decreased self-esteem, anxiety, or depression.
Skin Graft Complications: If a skin graft is required, complications such as graft failure, infection, or aesthetic issues like skin color mismatching can occur.

The risk of long-term complications can be reduced by taking the recovery process seriously. However, in many cases, the damage to the skin and underlying tissue is significant enough that victims will have some degree of long-term problems.

When victims of motorcycle crashes suffer painful or disfiguring injuries like road rash, they deserve compensation from the people who caused their crash. Our Oklahoma motorcycle injury lawyers want to help you get the compensation you deserve.

How Can Road Rash Be Prevented or Reduced?

There are two main methods of reducing the risk of road rash while riding: protecting your skin as much as possible in the event of a crash and riding in a manner that reduces your risk of crashing in the first place.

Steps you can take to reduce your road rash risks include:

Wear Protective Gear

Helmet: Always wear a DOT-approved or ECE-certified helmet to protect your head and face.
Riding Jacket: Choose a jacket made of abrasion-resistant materials like leather or textiles with reinforced armor.
Gloves: Wear durable, full-finger gloves to protect your hands from abrasions. Hands are particularly vulnerable, as many riders will throw their hands in front of themselves to try to catch themselves before hitting the ground in a crash.
Pants: Wear riding pants with protective inserts or made of strong materials like Kevlar or leather. Regular denim jeans aren’t durable enough to avoid tearing on impact with the pavement, especially at high speeds.
Boots: Sturdy, over-the-ankle boots with good grip can protect your feet and ankles from injury.

Practice Safe Riding Techniques

Ride at or below the speed limit and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
Avoid sudden braking or sharp turns that can lead to losing control.
Be cautious in adverse weather conditions, as accident risks can increase when roads are slick and visibility is reduced.
Enroll in a motorcycle safety course to learn or brush up on defensive riding techniques and tips for maintaining better control over your bike in different riding conditions.
Stick to well-maintained roads and avoid areas with high accident rates or poor road conditions.
Keep your attention on the road, avoid using your phone or engaging in other distractions, and be alert to potential hazards around you, especially other road users.

Contact Our Oklahoma City Motorcycle Accident Lawyers After a Crash

Insurance companies are notorious for reducing or denying payments to motorcyclists after crashes. That’s because they often believe motorcyclists must be fully or partially at fault for their own accidents. They’re even more reluctant to pay out for road rash-related damages, as they may believe that the condition isn’t serious enough to warrant compensation.

If you or someone you love was injured in a motorcycle accident due to a driver’s negligence and suffered road rash or any other type of injury, the Oklahoma City motorcycle accident attorneys at Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers are here to help. We have decades of experience building strong claims for injured riders throughout the Sooner State, and we know what it takes to win. Contact us today for a free case review.