Our Dedicated CA Injury Lawyer Discusses Road Rash and How to Obtain Fair Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident
If a negligent driver caused you to suffer road rash injuries in a motorcycle accident, you may be eligible for compensation. At Case Barnett Law, our compassionate personal injury team understands the catastrophic nature of motorcycle accident injuries, the medical expenses involved, and the potential for scarring. They will provide solid advice and explain the options to those needing to secure a financial recovery for damages.
Our law firm serves clients in Orange County and provides 17 years of experience helping those in need. Schedule a free consultation to learn how we might be able to serve you.
If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, riding on California’s highways and open roads offers a feeling of freedom, liberation, and escape as you get close to nature and travel with the wind. Riding is a passion for many motorcyclists who want to embrace the world up close and personal. However, riding a motorcycle carries significant risks. In 2021, over 11,000 motorcyclists were injured in California accidents, according to data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Many of these injuries involved road rash.
Because a motorcycle accident can change your life, it’s important to hire the experienced motorcycle accident injury attorneys at Case Barnett Law. They have helped many injured victims in Orange County recover for their damages, and they may be able to help you, too.
Understanding Motorcycle Accident Road Rash Injuries
Road rash, also called road burn, is a common motorcycle accident injury that can occur when you’re thrown off your motorcycle or dragged along the pavement. During a crash, you may experience road rash if exposed skin scrapes against the pavement, ground, gravel, or other road surfaces. Typically, broken glass, dirt, and debris can become embedded in the skin.
Bikers who don’t wear full protective gear are especially at risk for road rash. They can be dragged long distances or thrown onto or into a hard surface and suffer road rash to the face, shoulders, arms, thighs, and palms. If your case of road rash is very serious, you may suffer open wounds that could require plastic surgery and skin grafts. While most riders recover from road rash, some injuries can lead to serious complications, including the following:
- Nerve and muscle damage
- Permanent tissue damage
- Long-term scarring
- Infection
California Motorcycle Accidents: Degrees of Road Rash
When the force of the accident throws you to the ground or pushes you across the pavement, you may suffer abrasions, burns, and scrapes that are often painful but not usually fatal. The following are the three degrees of severity for road rash:
- First degree. This is considered “minor” road rash that typically affects the outer skin layer. You may suffer superficial scratches, bruising, some bleeding, redness, minor scrapes, and skin tenderness. Once you’ve been seen by a physician after your accident, this type of road rash can often be treated at home. Your doctor can explain how best to keep the area clean and minimize the risk of infection using soap, water, and antibiotic ointment.
- Second degree. Suffering second-degree road rash is considered serious. You may have exposed nerves, muscles, or tendons, bleeding, swelling, and radiating heat in the affected area that may be painful to touch. It’s important that you obtain medical attention right away. It’s possible there will be scarring with second-degree road rash.
- Third degree. This degree of road rash is considered severe. Your skin may peel back, and underlying tissue may be exposed; you may have deep wounds; and your wounds may bleed and/or swell. It’s possible that the affected area will have a milky or shiny appearance, exposed nerves, bone, muscle, and/or tendons, and cover over 10% of your body. While it’s likely that this type of road rash will be excruciatingly painful, it’s possible that due to nerve damage, you may not feel any pain at all. It’s important to see a doctor immediately and not touch the wounds to avoid infection. Third-degree road rash can cause scarring and permanent deformity.
How Case Barnett Law Can Help if You Suffer Road Rash in Your California Motorcycle Accident
After you seek medical attention for your motorcycle accident injuries, your first next step is to contact a California personal injury lawyer. Even if your road rash isn’t fatal, doesn’t alter your life, and is treatable, you will likely suffer a great deal of pain, some scarring, and expensive medical bills as a result of the accident. Case Barnett Law can help you recover damages by negotiating with insurance companies, helping to determine liability, calculating damages, and gathering critical evidence.
We Know the Evidence to Gather
Case C. Barnett understands that any crash, especially a motorcycle crash, requires evidence to prove the other driver was at fault. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver, we will help gather critical evidence for your personal injury claim, including the following:
- Police report. The police report will show if the other driver was issued a traffic citation and often provide the officer’s conclusions about who was at fault.
- Statements from eyewitnesses. Third-party witnesses to the crash can be especially helpful for your claim. Because these eyewitnesses have no stake in the outcome of your case, their written statements about what happened can be compelling and influential.
- Photos. If you can, it’s helpful to get pictures of your damaged cycle, weather, road conditions at the time of the accident, and your road rash injuries.
- Motorcycle. Your motorcycle could be a key piece of evidence in determining the cause of the crash. It’s important not to get your bike repaired before talking to a lawyer.
- Medical reports. To prove the seriousness of your injuries, your medical records, doctor notes, and the cost of your treatment and care can be critical pieces of evidence.
Case Barnett Law will work with insurance companies to settle your claim, but they will also take your case to court, if necessary. They will help you obtain fair compensation for damages, including medical expenses and treatments, loss of income and benefits, loss of future earnings and earning potential, and pain and suffering.