Friction burn injury, commonly known as road rash, is typically seen after traffic accidents involving bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. Most cases of road rash are classified as superficial, minor first-degree burns. However, road rash can happen from traffic crashes because of sliding friction, resulting in an extremely high degree of friction, causing third-degree or full-thickness deep burns that will need intensive wound treatment and surgery.
The severity of the road rash will mostly depend on the moving vehicle’s speed and the surface where the injured victim’s body part slides. Basically, the greater the moving vehicle’s velocity, the higher the risk of a person sustaining a more severe road rash. Likewise, the risk of more severe injury increases the rougher the surface that rubs against the body part. This also applies if the body part is not covered by clothing.
Crashes that occur during the afternoon also result in more devastating injuries since the road’s surface temperature is higher, causing a greater buildup of heat and, consequently, more serious burns.
How is Road Rash Treated?
In minor road rash cases, as long as the injury is kept clean and dry, it will usually heal in a week or two. On the other hand, more severe cases of road rash will require more extensive treatment since they involve deeper and multiple layers of injured skin. This is why it’s recommended to seek prompt medical attention after sustaining a road rash just to be on the safe side. You must also get immediate treatment if:
- The rash is on your face, genitals, feet, or hands.
- The rash is three times (or more) bigger than your palm.
- There’s visible bone or muscle.
- There’s excessive bleeding.
- There are signs of infection.
- The injured area has small rocks, glass, or other foreign objects embedded in it.
Take note that severe road rash must be treated like severe burns, which usually means reconstructive surgery and skin grafts may be needed.
What are Complications of Road Rash?
Recovery can vary from several days to a couple of months or years, depending on the injury’s severity. Unfortunately, in most severe road rash cases, injured victims may require long-term rehab and lifetime medical treatments.
Apart from permanent skin damage and scarring, third-degree road rash can lead to impaired tendon and muscle functionality, nerve damage, and possible deformity of the injured area. In addition, road rash can cause sepsis or blood poisoning, which easily infects the entire body through the bloodstream.
This is a potentially fatal infection that leads to organ failure and extremely low blood pressure and requires prompt medical treatment to prevent further complications and death.
Seek Legal Advice from a Knowledgeable Plano, TX, Personal Injury Lawyer Now
If you’ve sustained a road rash or have been hurt in an accident through another individual’s negligent actions, get in touch with The Law Office Of Joel M. Vecchio, P.C., for legal help. You can set up your free case evaluation with our Plano, TX, personal injury lawyer to learn about your options for seeking compensation. Call 972-380-4444 or send us an online message for more details.
