3 types of road rashes every motorcyclist should know

Motorcycling is a preferred method of transportation for many people in the summer. While motorcycling offers excitement and freedom in ways that a car cannot, it can also be much more dangerous.

Motorcyclists are near 28 times more likely to die from a car accident than the occupants of the car. Some of the most serious injuries motorcyclists face include traumatic brain injuries and broken bones. However, there’s another severe type of injury that may not be as obvious: road rashes.

Road rashes are a kind of skin abrasion that can occur when a motorcyclist falls off their bike in a crash and slides across the rough asphalt. The resulting scrapes and cuts are a road rash, but road rashes don’t always just end there. Sometimes, a road rash can lead to even more severe injuries.

Every motorcyclist should be aware of the three degrees of a road rash:

1. A first-degree road rash is mostly mild and affects the first layer of skin. These are light scrapes or grazes that generally will not bleed.
2. Second-degree road rashes affect the first and second layers of skin, leading to bleeding and swelling. This level of abrasion can also cause the exposure of muscle tendons and will lead to some scarring of the skin as it heals.
3. The most severe kind of road rash is third-degree skin abrasion. Also known as an avulsion wound, this level of abrasion will have serious tearing of the skin, going past the second layer. Third-degree road rashes may even expose the bone. There will be substantial swelling and bleeding and can significantly damage your muscles and nerves.

The more serious types of road rashes can also result in an infection. If you’re in a motorcycle accident, it’s critical that you receive medical attention immediately. Understanding the severity of your abrasions can hopefully prevent your injuries from causing too much damage.

Road rashes might not sound as life-altering as a traumatic brain injury, but they are still serious. Make sure to receive treatment after your accident so you can recover sooner rather than later.