Seeking Compensation for Road Rash Injuries in New Jersey

Most motorcycle riders ride their bikes safely and prudently. We often do so for pleasure to enjoy the outdoors, especially during a beautiful day. Unfortunately for many experienced riders, the day is cut short when an inattentive car or truck cuts us off causing us to drop our bikes. If lucky, we do not break any bones and experience what’s called road rash. But for any motorcyclists who have experienced road rash, it is anything but a “rash.”

Road rash is one of the most common injuries motorcyclists suffer in accidents in New Jersey. Riders with their skin exposed who fall off their bikes in traffic accidents can suffer severe road rash injuries. Depending on the circumstances of a crash, road rash injuries can have permanent consequences and require significant medical treatment – not to mention extensive pain and suffering.

If you’ve suffered a road rash injury in a New Jersey motorcycle accident that was someone else’s fault, you deserve to seek compensation for the harm and losses you incurred from your injury. The experienced road rash injury attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., stand ready to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve from all at-fault parties.

Many of our personal injury lawyers are licensed motorcycle enthusiasts. Our personal biking experience makes us effective advocates for the rights of motorcycle riders, especially ones who have suffered injuries like road rash in crashes that weren’t their fault.

Don’t let the big insurance companies get away with blaming you for a crash that caused your road rash injuries. Contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., for a free consultation and find out how our attorneys can aggressively demand the money you deserve.

What Are Road Rash Injuries?

If you’ve never heard the term, you may ask yourself, “What is road rash?” Road rash is a friction burn that occurs when a person hits or slides across the pavement, such as in a motorcycle accident. Motorcyclists or bicyclists who fall off their bikes during accidents can suffer road rash injuries. However, vehicle occupants who get ejected from their vehicles in traffic accidents can also suffer road rash injuries if they come into contact with the pavement.

Similar to burns, the severity of road rash is graded by degrees, with the severity of the injury increasing with each degree. The degrees of road rash injuries are as follows:

• First-degree road rash – First-degree road rash injuries usually involve superficial scraping of the first layer of the skin (epidermis). The injury may cause bruising, tenderness, or minor bleeding. First-degree road rash injuries usually heal on their own, although injury victims should wash the wound with soap and water to prevent infections.
• Second-degree road rash – Second-degree road rash injuries cause damage to the second layer of skin (dermis). These injuries can cause bleeding and swelling and may require medical attention. A second-degree road rash injury can leave permanent scarring once healed.
• Third-degree road rash – The most severe road rash injury, third-degree injuries destroy the skin, exposing fat tissues, ligaments, tendons, muscles, or bone. These injuries will cause significant bleeding and swelling, with the wound area taking on a milky-colored appearance.

How to Treat Road Rash

Treatment for road rash injuries will depend on the severity of the injury. For first-degree and some second-degree road rash injuries, accident victims can treat the injury with basic first aid, including:

• Washing the wound area with soap and warm water to prevent infection and cleaning out any  foreign material or dirt stuck in the wound
• Bandaging the wound to protect the skin as it heals
• Using antibiotic ointments with moisturizing ingredients to prevent infection and avoid causing the skin to dry out
• Frequently changing bandaging for sterile bandages or gauze, preferably at least once a day
• Monitoring the wound for signs of infection, such as worsening pain or swelling, redness or discoloration, or discharges of pus or other fluids besides blood
• Taking over-the-counter pain medication if needed to relieve pain caused by the injury

More severe road rash injuries may require treatment from healthcare providers. Treatment options for severe injuries include:

• Water-based treatments, like ultrasound mist therapy, that clean the debris out of the wound and stimulate healing
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for road rash wounds that have trouble healing
• Debridement procedures that remove dead tissue from a wound site to allow the remaining tissues to heal
• Surgeries to remove foreign debris from a wound, close open wounds, or perform procedures such as skin grafts

Depending on the location of the injury, road rash victims may also receive physical therapy to help maintain flexibility over joints if a wound leaves scar tissue or undergo plastic surgery to improve the appearance and flexibility of scars.

Can I Seek Compensation for Road Rash?

The answer is YES if you can prove that the other driver was negligent causing you to drop your bike to avoid a collision, or if you were struck by another car, truck or bus. Often the police report places fault upon the biker, when in fact he or she did nothing wrong. A good lawyer can help prove otherwise.

Severe road rash injuries can require extensive medical treatment. You may have the right to seek compensation for road rash injuries that cause you to incur medical bills, prevent you from working, and cause you significant pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. Our lawyers are ready to review your situation, identify all potentially liable parties, and pursue the maximum compensation you deserve for your losses.

How Much Time Do I Have to Seek Compensation for Road Rash?

If you’ve suffered a road rash injury in a motorcycle crash in New Jersey, you have limited time to file a lawsuit. New Jersey’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims gives you only two years after an accident to file a claim seeking compensation for your injuries. If you file a lawsuit after the statutory deadline, the court will most likely dismiss your case as untimely, regardless of the merits. If so, you will lose your right to pursue compensation in civil court.

Speaking with our motorcycle accident attorneys as soon as possible is crucial to pursuing the financial relief and justice you deserve.

Compensation Available for Road Rash Injuries

If you’ve sustained road rash injuries in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, you may have the right to seek compensation for the losses you incur due to your injuries. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might be compensated for the following:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses
• Lost income if you need to take time off work while recovering
• Lost earning capacity if you suffer permanent disabilities or impairments that prevent you from working
• Physical pain and emotional distress
• Loss of quality of life resulting from your injuries, visible scarring, and disfigurement that leaves you feeling humiliated or embarrassed

Talk to an Experienced Motorcycle Crash Attorney in New Jersey Today

If you suffered a road rash injury in a motorcycle accident in New Jersey due to someone else’s carelessness, you deserve to seek full compensation for your financial and personal losses. Contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., today for a free no-obligation consultation with our experienced motorcycle crash attorneys in New Jersey. We have secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients throughout New Jersey and New York. We are ready to work tirelessly to pursue the financial relief you deserve.