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Don’t let the mild name of this potentially serious injury deceive you. Road rash can become a very severe condition. Most commonly associated with motorcycle and bicycle accidents, road rash refers to the skin abrasions that a rider receives when she is thrown from the bike. Motorcycles and bicycles offer no protection from the outside environment, leaving the victim’s bare or cloth-covered skin exposed to the hard pavement.
While most mild cases of road rash can be treated at home, an unusually large wound or infected road rash may require medical attention, particularly if your tetanus shot is outdated (more than 10 years ago). Any infection can quickly spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. See a doctor immediately if you believe your road rash is not healing as well as expected. Signs of a potentially infected rash include the following:
- Fever
- A foul smell from the wound
- Unusual amount of redness or pus
- Increased pain
- Swelling around the wound
- Feeling dizzy
More severe cases of road rash are sometimes referred to as road burn because they are typically deeper, cover a larger area of skin, and receive treatment similar to that of a burn. In extreme cases, you may have to undergo additional medical procedures, such as skin grafting (to replace lost tissue) or debridement (removing dead, damaged, or infected tissue from a wound).
If you’ve suffered a severe case of road rash following a motorcycle crash in Maryland, you may be eligible for compensation to pay for your medical expenses related to the injury. For more information or a free consultation, call our skilled Maryland motorcycle accident attorneys at 800-875-9700 today.