Miami Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Vulnerable road users get their name for a reason, comprising a group of individuals who are not traveling in vehicles that protect their safety with a metal shell. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicycle riders fall under this umbrella, but some new vulnerable road users are capitalizing on the recent popularity of e-scooters. There are many advantages of renting or owning an electric scooter, and these vehicles are especially appealing to young people who appreciate their convenience, flexibility, and reasonable cost.
However, these benefits can be overshadowed by the risk of crashes with larger, faster motorized vehicles. Those accustomed to traveling in an enclosed auto may be unfamiliar with a unique, extremely painful type of injury that tends to affect e-scooter operators: Road rash. This trauma is a friction wound to the skin, but it is surprising how a seemingly minor injury could carry significant risks. A Miami e-scooter accident lawyer will assist with your remedies.
Overview of Road Rash Injuries
In an e-scooter collision, the rider will almost always be tossed from the vehicle and suffer a secondary impact from striking the ground. A victim may skid along the surface of the pavement or concrete, which causes road rash injuries to exposed skin. Road rash is actually a combination of two different types of trauma:
- A burn that occurs when heat energy is transferred from the friction of the road to the skin; and,
- An abrasion that scrapes one or more layers of skin off.
When road rash causes debris to become lodged in the skin, the injury is called a traumatic tattoo. Dirt, metal shards, glass, gravel, and other materials could remain in the skin permanently if not treated.
Risks for Victims of E-Scooter Collisions
Treatment for road rash encompasses care for both types of wounds, and it can be quite extensive depending on the percentage of the body affected. Because the friction wound is often open and exposed, infection is often an associated complication. When road rash is severe, a victim could be looking at various surgical procedures, such as:
Wound Debridement: This procedure is surgical-level scrubbing to clear out dead tissue and infection, so it is painful. Debridement is often necessary to remove foreign items that would cause a traumatic tattoo.
Skin Grafts: Road rash is a burn that can lead to significant scarring. You may need corrective surgery on the most common areas affected by friction wounds, including the knees, face, forearms, and hands.
Free Flap Procedure: Similar to a skin graft, this surgery involves moving tissues along with blood supply to the injury site, enabling reconstruction of the affected area.
Contact Our Miami E-Scooter Accident Attorneys About Legal Remedies
Road rash is more severe than you might expect, so it is important to take appropriate action if you are hurt in an e-scooter collision. For more information on the legal process, please contact Gerson & Schwartz, PA. You can call (305) 371-6000 or visit us online to schedule a free consultation at our offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, FL.
