Road rash is a common injury in motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, and other accidents in which a person’s skin is dragged or scraped across pavement or another rough surface. Although some cases involve relatively minor abrasions, severe road rash can damage multiple layers of skin, expose underlying tissue, cause infection, and leave permanent scars.
In Madison, Wisconsin, someone who develops road rash due to another person’s negligence may have the right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. The severity of the injury, how the accident occurred, and whether the injured person shares responsibility can all affect a personal injury claim.
Road rash is a friction injury that occurs when skin makes forceful contact with pavement or another abrasive surface. It is especially common in motorcycle accidents because riders have little protection between their bodies and the road.
Road rash can also result from:
The extent of the injury depends on factors such as the speed of the accident, the surface involved, protective clothing, and how far the person slides.
Road rash can range from a superficial abrasion to an injury that causes significant tissue damage. While terminology can vary among medical providers, these injuries are often described according to their depth and severity.
First-degree road rash generally affects the outer layer of skin. It may cause redness, tenderness, minor bleeding, and abrasions.
Second-degree road rash extends deeper into the skin and may result in significant bleeding, swelling, pain, and embedded debris.
Third-degree road rash can destroy multiple layers of skin and expose underlying fat, muscle, tendons, or other tissue. Severe cases may require surgery or skin grafting and can result in permanent scarring or disfigurement.
A medical professional can determine the extent of the injury and recommend appropriate treatment.
Road rash may be more serious than it initially appears. Dirt, gravel, glass, and other debris can become embedded in an open wound during an accident, increasing the risk of complications.
Potential complications include:
Severe wounds may require debridement, skin grafts, reconstructive procedures, or ongoing treatment. Scarring on visible areas such as the face, hands, arms, or legs may also have lasting physical and emotional effects.
Your health should be the priority after an accident. Even if road rash initially appears manageable, deeper injuries and contamination may require professional medical care.
After an accident, consider taking the following steps:
These records may also help establish the extent of your injuries if you later pursue a personal injury claim.
If another person’s negligence caused the accident that resulted in your road rash, you may be able to pursue compensation for the financial and personal effects of the injury.
Depending on your circumstances, compensation may include:
The amount available depends on the facts of the accident, the severity and long-term effects of the injury, and the losses you can establish.
Being partially responsible for an accident does not necessarily prevent you from recovering compensation in Wisconsin.
Under Wisconsin’s modified comparative negligence law, an injured person can recover damages as long as their negligence is not greater than the negligence of the person from whom they seek recovery. Any damages awarded are reduced according to the injured person’s percentage of negligence.
For example, if you are found 20% responsible for an accident, your damages may generally be reduced by 20%.
This rule can be particularly relevant in motorcycle accidents when the parties disagree about speeding, visibility, right-of-way, or other conduct leading up to the crash.
Protective clothing can reduce the risk or severity of road rash, but Wisconsin does not require every motorcycle rider to wear a helmet. Helmets are required for certain riders, including motorcycle operators and passengers under 18, as well as operators with motorcycle instruction permits. Wisconsin also generally requires motorcycle operators to wear approved eye protection unless a qualifying windshield is installed.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation strongly recommends protective clothing such as a full-face helmet, heavy-duty jacket and pants, over-the-ankle boots, and full-fingered gloves.
Questions about protective gear and fault depend on the circumstances of the accident and whether particular conduct contributed to the injuries.
Wisconsin generally gives an injured person three years to bring a lawsuit seeking damages for personal injuries. This deadline expressly applies to personal injuries arising from motor vehicle accidents under Wisconsin Statute § 893.54.
However, different rules or deadlines may apply depending on the parties and circumstances involved. Waiting can also make it more difficult to preserve photographs, witness statements, surveillance footage, damaged equipment, and other evidence.
Road rash can cause far more than temporary cuts and scrapes. Serious injuries may require extensive medical treatment, prevent you from working, and leave lasting scars or other complications.
Our attorneys bring 140 years of combined legal experience and have recovered more than $100 million for injured clients. If you suffered road rash because of someone else’s negligence, contact Eisenberg Law Offices, S.C. today at (608) 817-7620 to schedule a free consultation with a Madison personal injury lawyer.
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