Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers | October 20, 2025 | Personal Injury
The term “road rash” gets thrown around a lot, and it might not sound as severe as a brain injury or broken bone, for example. However, it’s a serious injury in its own right. Road rash is a type of friction burn that forms when the skin meets a rough surface at high speed. It’s usually associated with bikers when they take a spill.
But you don’t have to ride a motorcycle to get road rash. Cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers thrown from vehicles can all end up with serious road rash.
Levels of Severity of Road Rash
Not all road rash is created equal. Doctors generally break it down into three degrees, similar to burns. No matter the degree, though, these injuries can leave behind lasting damage.
First-Degree
This is the mildest form of road rash and includes redness, surface scrapes, and mild stinging. It usually heals on its own with a little TLC at home.
Second-Degree
The skin’s outer layer gets torn, and the deeper tissue is exposed. There will probably be bleeding and swelling, and infection can set in if the injury isn’t cleaned quickly.
Third-Degree
Skin can get shredded so badly that muscle, fat, and bone can be seen. Treatment can be extensive and often requires skin grafting, surgery, and long-term care.
Scarring Can Affect Self-Image
Scars can be large and noticeable, especially when the road rash covers a wide area. But the impact goes deeper than just their appearance.
Some people develop thick, raised scars called keloids or hypertrophic scars, and they’re hard to ignore. Living with visible scarring like that (especially if it’s on the face) can take a toll on a person’s self-esteem and destroy their confidence in social situations.
Infection Is a Real Risk
A lot of people don’t realize that road rash typically brings dirt, gravel, glass, and other debris into the wound, which creates a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Even a small patch of rash can become dangerous if something gets into it.
Infections like staph or MRSA can set in quickly. They often cause redness, swelling, pus, or fever. Left untreated, these infections can spread and become dangerous. Some cases end up needing IV antibiotics or even surgery to remove infected tissue.
Nerve Damage Can Lead to Other Health Issues
Depending on how deep the wound goes, road rash can damage the nerves underneath the skin. That leads to numbness, tingling, and, sometimes, chronic pain. In some cases, these symptoms last long after the skin has healed.
Ongoing nerve damage is often overlooked. However, it can severely disrupt daily life in ways you might not expect. Loss of feeling, reduced strength, and persistent pain are common complaints that make it tough to go about your normal routines.
Road Rash Can Be Expensive to Treat
Treating road rash isn’t always simple or cheap. Even minor cases may need several doctor visits, prescription ointments, and dressing changes. More serious injuries might require emergency care, wound debridement, skin grafts, and follow-up surgeries.
On top of that, there’s a good chance the injured person will miss time from work. Some people are out for days, while others may be sidelined for weeks or longer. And if scarring or nerve issues affect mobility, that could mean a permanent derailment of their career.
Contact Our Stuart Personal Injury Lawyers at Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Too often, road rash gets brushed off as something minor. But anyone who’s had it knows that the pain, complications, and long-term impact can be severe. Whether it’s the physical toll, financial hit, or emotional scars, road rash can reshape lives in ways people don’t see coming.
If you need help after an accident, please contact the Stuart, Port St. Lucie, or Palm Beach Gardens personal injury law firm of Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Martin County, St. Lucie County, Palm Beach County, and its surrounding areas in Florida:
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Stuart
73 SW Flagler Ave
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 444-7000
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Port St. Lucie
1100 SW St. Lucie West Blvd. Ste 202
Port St Lucie, FL 34986
(772) 247-3374
Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Palm Beach Gardens
300 Ave of the Champions Ste 170
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
(561) 944-4000
