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Facts About Road Rash

Home   /   Personal Injury Blog   /   Facts About Road Rash

October 20, 2021 | By Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
Facts About Road Rash

Road rash is a skin abrasion caused by scraping your skin against a rough surface, like a road. It’s often thought of in connection with bicycle accidents or motorcycle crashes. But road rash is quite common in car accidents as well. On its own, road rash can be a minor injury. If you’re injured in an accident where your skin has had direct contact with the road, you may suffer from road rash in connection with other, more severe injuries. 

What Causes Road Rash?

Road rash can occur with even the slightest fall. In addition to a bike crash or a motorcycle accident, there are any number of ways you could get road rash.

You might end up with road rash after:

  • Skateboarding fall
  • Pedestrian accident
  • Crashing a scooter
  • Trip and fall accident
  • Car accident

It doesn’t take much for the rough surface of the road to take off some of your skin. Any contact of bare skin with pavement or gravel is likely to cause road rash.

How Dangerous is Road Rash?

Road rash injuries are also sometimes called “friction burn,” or “strawberries” due to the appearance of the skin after such an injury. The top layer of skin, called the epidermis, is peeled off, and there may be minor bleeding and exposed tissue. These injuries may be able to be treated at home with basic first aid.

Deeper abrasions can be more serious because they involve multiple layers of skin. Even mild cases of road rash can be extremely painful because it affects many nerve endings. Because road rash can leave a large surface area of skin open to bacteria, it’s important to watch for signs of infection. 

If you’ve been in an accident that caused road rash, it’s important to be aware that there could be underlying injuries that aren’t visible. Anytime you’ve had contact with pavement, there’s a possibility you could also have a broken bone, concussion, sprain, or other injury.

How to Treat Road Rash

If you have any doubt at all about the severity of your wound, you should seek medical treatment. For obvious superficial wounds with little to no bleeding, you can take several basic first aid steps to treat at home. Always keep an eye on the wound to watch for signs of infection.

Some steps to treat minor road rash can include:

  • Wash your hands before touching the wound
  • Carefully rinse and clean the affected area as soon as possible - don’t scrub too hard
  • Be sure to remove any debris from the wound, such as dirt or pebbles
  • Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to the wound
  • Cover the wound with a clean bandage or gauze to help prevent infection
  • Change the bandage at least once a day
  • Check the wound for infection until it is fully healed 

If you see any signs of infection, seek medical attention.

Signs of infection include:

  • The wound isn’t healing
  • The abrasion is red or swollen
  • Increased pain
  • You have a fever
  • Pus or other discharge is coming from the abrasion

It’s best to err on the side of caution if you have any doubt about seeking medical advice. Untreated infection can be serious and can even result in death. Some studies recommend that serious road rash victims be treated by burn experts to improve healing.

Preventing Road Rash

There might not be much you can do to prevent road rash that might occur if you’re in a car crash. You expect your car to protect you in the event of an accident.

But, you can take some precautions to protect against road rash when riding a bike or motorcycle, such as:

  • Wearing protective gear
  • Taking extra precaution at intersections
  • Wearing high visibility clothing
  • Not riding on slick roads

Sometimes, taking a tumble is unavoidable. Some protective gear and careful riding can prevent serious injuries. If you are severely injured and someone else caused your injuries, a New Port Richey personal injury lawyer may be able to help.

Contact the New Port Richey Car Accident Law Firm of Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today

For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in New Port Richey. We have convenient locations in Florida: St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.

We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:

Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers - Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765

(727) 787-2500

Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers - Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763

(727) 591-5610

Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers - Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615

(813) 686-7588

Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers - New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655

(727) 815-8442

Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers - St. Petersburg Law Office
840 Beach Dr NE Suite 202
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

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Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers - Safety Harbor Law Office
202 9th Ave S Suite A-2
Safety Harbor, FL 34695

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They did a great job and even advised what to do if there was no insurance for the at-fault driver and I had to self represent. Ended up being able to get me the fullest payout possible, team was easy to keep in touch with, and Miles was clear in his explanations and helpful with his advice. I still use some of the doctors I connected with through their firm. Would recommend Roman Austin and would use them again.

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I cannot say enough incredible things about Roman Austin Law Firm. John Austin is a phenomenal lawyer. I was in a bad crash that involved a truck totaling my vehicle and sustaining neck and back injuries.Going into this process, I was honestly apprehensive about even hiring a lawyer. I was especially wary of those large, commercial firms that just want to move cases quickly. I had heard some great things about Roman Austin, but did my own extensive research and now know why they are a five star firm. What could have easily been a stressful and overwhelming experience turned into something completely different because of John Austin and his team. Choosing them was one of the best decisions I have ever made.John is truly exceptional. He is incredibly detailed, meticulous, and completely devoted to his work. He worked tirelessly on my case, going above and beyond anything I could have ever expected. He spent countless hours (even on weekends), and was always available whenever I needed him. His level of dedication, care, and precision is something you rarely find.Beyond that, he is patient, kind, and deeply compassionate. You never feel like just another case. He genuinely cares about you as a person and wants the absolute best for you. He made what could have been a difficult process feel manageable and supported every step of the way.His entire team was phenomenal. They were responsive, professional, and just as committed. Every interaction felt thoughtful and intentional.The outcome we achieved was fantastic, and I am beyond grateful. I couldn't be more pleased with my experience.If you are considering legal representation, I wholeheartedly recommend John at Roman Austin Law Firm. They are professional, dedicated, and truly invested in their clients.Choosing John Austin made all the difference. He fought tirelessly to ensure that everything I endured was recognized and fairly compensated, and that level of dedication is something I will never forget. I am profoundly grateful not only for the outcome, but for the care, integrity, and unwavering commitment shown every step of the way. Forever thankful I chose them, and truly forever grateful.

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Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers

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