Motorcyclists are largely unprotected in the event of an accident, compared to motorists in cars and trucks. Because of this, a motorcyclist will likely suffer serious injuries if involved in a crash. If a motorcyclist is thrown from his or her bike in an accident, road rash may occur.

If you suffered a road rash injury from a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact our Silver Spring motorcycle accident attorneys now to learn the legal options available to you through a free consultation.

What Is Road Rash?

Road rash occurs when a motorcyclist’s skin makes contact with the road, gravel, pavement or asphalt. Road rash can occur even when the motorcyclist takes appropriate safety measures, such as wearing leather jackets, chaps and gloves.

When contact between skin and road surfaces takes place, layers of the skin are torn away, possibly down to the victim’s muscle or bone. These injuries can be difficult to treat and may lead to nerve damage and infection.

Road rash can range from mild to severe, requiring extensive medical care in some cases. Like burn injuries, road rash injuries are categorized by degree:

  • First degree road rash injuries leave the top level of the skin reddened. Medical treatment is not typically necessary and the injury will heal normally.
  • Second degree road rash breaks the first level of the skin. In most cases, underlying skin layers are undamaged, and the injury will heal without causing permanent damage or scarring.
  • Third degree road rash removes most of the skin, so tissue and fat can be seen. Skin grafts are typically required.

Road rash victims often report effects such as:

  • Scarring of the affected area
  • Disfigurement
  • Severe pain
  • Infections
  • Post-traumatic stress

Compensation for Road Rash Injuries

Extensive road rash injuries can affect the victim’s health, emotional wellbeing and ability to work. The motorcycle accident attorneys of Goldberg Finnegan work to determine the extent your injuries affect your life in order to seek appropriate compensation for these losses.

Through a personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to recover compensation for the following losses resulting from your road rash injury:

Medical Expenses

Always seek medical attention following a motorcycle accident so your injuries can be diagnosed and treated effectively. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your medical costs, including:

  • Emergency room visits
  • Hospitalization
  • Surgery
  • Doctor visits
  • Diagnostic tests and imaging
  • Medications
  • Medical supplies and devices

Lost Wages

You may be forced to take time off work due to your road rash injury, causing you to lose income. If this happens, you may be able to recover compensation for:

  • The earnings lost from time off work when you were hospitalized or recovering from your injury
  • Vocational training
  • Lost earning capacity if your road rash injury prevents you from performing your typical job duties

Pain and Suffering

The severity of your road rash injury may entitle you to compensation for pain, suffering, mental anguish and discomfort. To determine the amount of compensation, the degree of your injury, your recovery time, and the pain you suffered will be evaluated.

Scarring and Disfigurement

When road rash leads to permanent scarring and disfigurement, the victim’s quality of life may be impacted. Treatment for severe road rash may include reconstructive surgery, skin grafts and other invasive, costly and painful treatments and rehabilitation. Our attorneys can help you determine if you are entitled to compensation for your scarring and disfigurement.

Contact Our Experienced Silver Spring Road Rash Lawyers Today

Motorcycle injuries, like road rash, can have serious effects on a motorcycle rider. For this reason, you should not wait to contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to learn more about your legal options for recovering compensation for the damages you have experienced.

The trusted team at Goldberg Finnegan has decades of experience handling motorcycle accident cases and can help advise you of the legal options that are in your best interest. Contact us today to schedule a free, no obligation consultation. We provide our services on a contingency fee basis and will not require payment unless we recover compensation for you.