Dallas Attorney for Road Rash Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to financial compensation. It doesn’t take long for medical bills to become overwhelming. If you’re unable to return to work, you’re also struggling with lost wages and other costs you incurred because of the accident.
Injuries to a motorcyclist are usually greater than those experienced by the occupants of other vehicles. The sheer size and weight difference between the vehicles, as well as the lack of protection for the cyclist, can lead to devastating injuries. The Dallas motorcycle accident attorneys of The Benton Law Firm understand that each accident is unique. We take the time to listen to your story and use the details of your case to customize a strategy during insurance negotiation or litigation in court.
Although you may be entitled to compensation, filing a claim with the insurance company can be challenging. You need a legal team on your side who can aggressively negotiate with insurance companies and litigate fiercely on your behalf if your case must go to court.
We hold a perfect 10 rating on AVVO, which corroborates our record of success and our stellar reputation with our clients and our peers. Our attorneys believe that our clients come first. However, we understand that experienced and skilled legal representation can be expensive.
For this reason, we work on contingency. Your first consultation is free. During that meeting, we gather facts and determine the best way to proceed. If we choose to work together, you pay no fees until we recover compensation for you. Call our office today at (214) 777-7777 to schedule your free consultation and case evaluation.
What Is Road Rash?
Road rash is a lay term for abrasions that happen to the skin and underlying tissue when it is rubbed or scraped across a solid surface. Road rash is a common injury after a motorcycle accident. It can occur on nearly any part of the body that was unprotected.
Road rash happens as the cyclist falls off the bike and slides across the pavement. A cyclist’s first instinct is to put out their hands to break their fall. This can lead to significant damage to the palms of the hand or a broken wrist. If a cyclist is thrown from their bike, they may end up with road rash on their shoulder, elbow, back, hips, or buttocks.
Related reading: Five Ways to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents
How Is Road Rash Treated?
Treatment for road rash depends on the severity of the injury. In minor cases, the abrasions will heal within two weeks when you keep the wounds clean and moist. However, after a significant accident, the abrasions can scrape through all the layers of skin and may require skin grafting to heal.
In other instances, pieces of debris from the road can become lodged below the skin. This can create a bruised appearance over the area that was wounded. This is called a traumatic tattoo.
We recommend that our clients see their primary care physician or a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment recommendations for their road rash or other injuries that occur in a motorcycle accident. This helps to document the significance of the injuries, treatment recommendations by the physician, and demonstrates our client’s desire to maintain good health.
The area should be carefully washed and cleaned with lukewarm water and soap. It is not necessary to scrub the wound as that can cause further damage to the tissues or bleeding. The intent is to disinfect the area with soap and water, remove any debris from the wound, and then use antibiotic ointment or cream to kill the bacteria, fight off infection and keep the area moist while the injury heals.
The wound should be covered with a sterile bandage that has a non-stick pad. This helps ensure that when the bandage is removed to be changed, it does not stick to the wound. The dressing should be changed once a day and the area redressed with antibiotic ointment.
If the wound is deep, you may be hospitalized for treatment. Even minor road rash wounds can get infected and cause significant damage. Depending on where the road rash occurred and how deep the injury was, you may end up with a disfiguring scar.
If the road rash is deep and over a joint, such as the knee or elbow, you may also have difficulty with range of motion after it heals. This means that it can be difficult to bend the knee or the elbow because of scar tissue.
Your physician may prescribe pain medication, which is most effective when it’s taken one hour before washing the wound and redressing it each day. As the road rash heals, the pain will also begin to dissipate.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Typically, drivers have a difficult time noticing motorcycles on the road. Crashes can result when a motorist is distracted or makes an error. Motorcyclists must take evasive action when there is debris on the road, which can catch car drivers unawares. Other causes of accidents with a motorcycle can include:
- Unsafe lane changes when the driver doesn’t check their blind spot
- Tailgating a motorcyclist
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Car drivers who fail to yield to motorcyclists and intersections
- Alcohol or drug impairment
Motorcyclists must be diligent and aware of their surroundings. For example, if a car driver who is parked does not look for traffic coming from behind before opening their door, it may strike a motorcyclist and cause a crash.
Know These Texas Laws About Motorcycle Accidents
Negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company or filing a lawsuit if negotiations are unsuccessful takes time and patience. There are also specific time frames of which you need to be aware. Each state limits the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. These limitations are set out in the statute of limitations.
In Texas, the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code section 16.003 allows two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you will likely have relinquished your right to seek justice in court.
Texas also operates under a modified comparative negligence rule. This means that if you were at-fault for part of the accident, the court could reduce your personal injury lawsuit award by the percentage they find you at fault.
For example, if you’re found to be 30 percent at fault for the accident, you may recover only 70 percent of your compensable damages. By the same token, if you’re found to be more than 50 percent responsible for the accident that caused your injuries, you may not recover any compensation for your accident-related injuries at all.
Contact The Benton Law Firm Today for Help After a Motorcycle Accident
It is crucial that you work with an experienced Dallas motorcycle accident attorney who will fight for your right to fair compensation. Our legal team will also fight to ensure that you are not assigned a greater percentage of fault than is fair for what happened in the accident.
A motorcycle accident can have a devastating effect on your life and the lives of those you love. Contact the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at The Benton Law Firm for help negotiating with insurance companies or litigating your case in court.
We recognize that compensation cannot make up for your personal injury or property loss. However, it can help to pay mounting medical expenses and make up for lost wages if you’re unable to return to work. Our legal team has had years of experience handling motorcycle accident injuries.
Contact our office today at (214) 777-7777 for your free consultation and case evaluation.