Whether you ride a bike or enjoy time on a motorcycle, one of the risks you face every time you mount up is the chance of a collision. If you do get hit by a car, truck, motorcyclist or even another cyclist, there is a fairly high likelihood that you will be injured in some way.
One of the most common injuries the higher-speed cyclists have to watch out for is road rash. It occurs when there is enough friction to cut away at the skin, leaving you with minimal surface skin. Depending on how severe the impact and drag was, the wounds can be expansive.
How do you know that road rash is serious after a bike accident?
You’ll know that road rash is serious if you can:
- See tendons
- See fat or muscle
- Are bleeding significantly
Any time you get road rash, you should think about seeing a medical provider. This is especially true if it has been a long time since you had your last tetanus shot, since tetanus bacteria could be present on the ground and, now, in your wounds.
What are the complications of road rash?
The greatest complication of road rash is the chance of infection. Tetanus is just one of several kinds of infections that you could end up with if you get road rash, so it’s important to seek medical care right away.
After getting road rash, there are several treatments you can go through to help you heal. If the rash isn’t deep, the medical team may be able to debride it, which means to remove all foreign or dead material, and then cleanse it for you. You might take antibiotics or get vaccinated against potential illnesses.
If you have a deeper case of road rash, you may require surgery in some cases. Though it is less common, some people with road rash do need to have skin grafts implanted, so the skin has an opportunity to heal in that region.
You need to know your legal options after getting hit
After you’re hit, if you suffer from road rash or other serious injuries, you need to know your options. You may be able to pursue a claim or lawsuit to help you get compensated.
