The injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident in Tennessee can range from mild to severe and can include death. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety, motorcycle accidents happen quite frequently and even have been increasing every year over the last 10 years. In 2008, there were 307,178 motorcycle licenses in the state of Tennessee. That year, there were also 3,257 motorcycle crashes reported with 143 fatalities and 2,530 injuries, which included many road rash injuries.

Whether you sustained severe, debilitating injuries from your motorcycle accident or even if you can recover from the harm you had to endure, it is important to understand your rights. Filing a personal injury claim for compensation in Tennessee can be complex. Victims can face several hurdles to getting the full and fair amount of compensation that they need to cover the costs from the damages sustained. The Nashville personal injury attorneys at Labrum Law can review your case and give you the proper legal guidance necessary to file your claim. Contact our legal team at (615) 338-9500 today.

What Is Road Rash?

Out of all the different types of injuries and outcomes that can result from a Nashville motorcycle accident it is logical to think that walking away with only road rash is a positive event. This is somewhat true considering, how many motorcycles crashes end in permanent paralysis or death. Victims who are able to walk away are likely to consider themselves lucky. However, road rash is often not just a minor injury. Road rash can have devastating consequences especially if it is not treated properly.

Understanding Road Rash

When a motorcyclist experiences road rash, their skin has essentially been ripped away from their body. The “rash” is open wounds on the skin and properly cleaning and attending to road rash wounds is imperative to ward off infection. Depending on the level of severity of a victim's road rash, it can take a long time to heal and the need for a wound specialist may be necessary. It is possible that the route to recovery is a drawn-out one with a significant medical price tag. When a person does recover from the destruction to their skin, they could have lifelong disfiguring scars where the road rash occurred on the body.

Compensation for Road Rash in Tennessee

Tennessee is an at-fault state when it comes to insurance. This means that if another party caused your motorcycle accident that directly led to your road rash lesions, then you can file a claim against the other driver's insurance. As an at-fault state, Tennessee allows victims to take legal action against the party or parties that were responsible for the motorcycle accident. The Nashville motorcycle accident attorneys at Labrum Law specialize in personal injury cases in Tennessee and are dedicated to providing the most exceptional legal services to victims who are ready to file injury claims.

Most Common Types of Road Rash

When a road rash injury happens it can be classified in any of the following ways:

• An avulsion is a deep removal of skin that is so intense bone, fat tissue, and muscle can be exposed. An avulsion is seen the most commonly in riders who were harmed by road rash.
• Compression is when the body or a body part is squeezed between two objects. Many times, the body is smashed between the weight of the motorcycle pressing down on the rider and the road. The body part afflicted is actually crushed which can mean broken bones, bruising, and the muscle may also be damaged.
• Open wounds happen when the skin is scraped open and the lacerations that result could require stitches. For some individuals, the open wounds are so great that skin grafting may be necessary for proper treatment and healing to take place.

Road rash that is considered mild should be treated followed by a regimen of good hygiene in the area so that a victim can heal effectively in the least amount of time. Victims of this level of injury can expect as long as two weeks for full healing to happen. This time frame changes when the damage to the skin is substantial, then healing time can be extended considerably. Victims of road rash should work with their doctors to learn about the right course of action in order to best manage their injuries and heal correctly.

Various Degrees of Road Rash

Not only are there different types of road rash, but there are also degrees to gauge how bad the injuries are.

• First-degree road rash is the most minor form. Cuts, bruising, discomfort, and notable redness result. At-home care is typically sufficient for first-degree harm.
• Second-degree road rash is when the skin has been grazed deeply and can affect the muscles, cause nerve damage, and injure the tendons. Often, a second-degree road rash trauma will need professional medical interventions, and scars are common once healed.
• Third-degree road rash is when the skin is completely obliterated and torn open to reveal bones and fat, muscles and tendons, and substantial nerve damage can result. It is critical for victims to be seen immediately by a trained medical professional with a third-degree injury.

Speak with a Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

When a negligent party caused your motorcycle accident in Nashville, you should not have to also be weighed down by the financial burden that comes in the aftermath as a result of these catastrophic incidents. Injury claims in Tennessee can include payment for your property damages, your medical care, pain and suffering, and lost wages if you had to miss work. You are within your right to file a claim to get all of the compensation you require to account for the full extent of your damages. Road rash injuries in Nashville can require intensive and costly medical treatment and while you are recovering you may have to take time off from your job.

To learn more about how you can increase your chances for maximum recovery from your Tennessee personal injury claim, consider speaking with a Nashville motorcycle accident attorney. Your initial consultation with one of Labrum Law's talented and skilled Nashville personal injury lawyers is always free. Schedule your free consultation today by calling (615) 338-9500.