Road Rash Injuries Following a Long Island Motorcycle Accident

Road rash, sometimes called road burn, is a common injury for victims of motorcycle accidents on Long Island. Bikers do not have the same level of protection in a crash as drivers and passengers in cars. With no seatbelts, airbags, or metal frames to protect them, the impact often throws the rider from the bike and causes them to scrape against the road, causing road rash. While treating road rash can be expensive, the costs of motorcycle road rash injuries can be physical and emotional as well.

Treatments for Road Rash

While minor road rash may only require a doctor to clean up the wound, more severe road rash may require emergency medical care. Bikers who have deep burns often require stitches and skin grafts.

According to HealthcareBluebook.com, skin graft surgery costs approximately $18,000 and patients may require more than one graft procedure. Plastic surgery is sometimes also necessary to reduce the appearance of scarring, which is an additional cost.

Impact of Road Burn

While medical care adds up quickly for many motorcycle accident victims, hospitalization, therapy, and other treatment costs are not the only losses they suffer.

Many people who suffer serious injuries cannot return to work for weeks, if not months. In the most serious cases, permanent disfigurement may prevent them from ever returning to their previous position. Lost wages not only prevent victims from paying for medical care, but also cause issues with paying everyday bills.

At the same time, serious cases of road rash heal may slowly and take months or even years to fully heal. This means victims must endure months of painful treatment. This time spent receiving treatment may put a strain on the victim’s relationships with friends and family.

In addition, road rash often leads to scarring. If scarring is on a particularly visible place such as the hands, face, or chest, the victim may feel ashamed and be unwilling or afraid to take part in social situations. This can lead to a decrease in the victim’s quality of life and substantial emotional distress and pain and suffering.

Determining Liability

Even though New York is a no-fault state, motorcycle accident victims are exempt from the “serious injury” threshold and can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for damages.

If you suffered road rash injuries in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver, Goldstein & Bashner on Long Island can help you recover compensation for your damages.