Motorcycles are a popular mode of transportation in California, offering freedom and efficiency to commute to work or take in the sights of our beautiful community. However, according to Berkeley SafeTREC, motorcycle accidents in the state have unfortunately been steadily increasing year after year. In their 2023 Traffic Safety Facts, they state that 549 motorcycle accident fatalities were reported in 2020, rising to 565 in 2021. Closer to home, the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) shows that in 2023, Stockton experienced 11 reported instances of motorcycle accident fatalities and serious injuries and 13 of the same accidents in Modesto.
An unfortunately common and serious type of injury sustained in California motorcycle accidents is a degloving injury. These traumatic injuries often require extensive medical procedures, and recovery time, leaving victims burdened with mounting medical bills while not being able to return to work. At Roberts Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, our team has witnessed firsthand the physical and emotional toll that degloving injuries can have on motorcycle accident victims. We are dedicated to fighting for the compensation you deserve, and handling the legal complexities of your case while you focus on healing.
What Are Motorcycle Degloving Injuries?
Motorcycle riders lack the protection that passengers in vehicles have, with only the gear they choose to wear protecting them. This makes them vulnerable to severe injuries when an accident happens. One particularly serious injury is a motorcycle degloving injury, which occurs when the skin is completely torn from the underlying tissue, exposing muscles, bones, or tendons. A degloved foot in a motorcycle accident is most often caused by high-impact forces combined with the rider’s direct exposure to the road and other vehicles. Motorcycle degloving injuries are not only painful but also life-altering, and can affect various parts of the body, often requiring extensive medical care and long periods of recovery.
What Are The Two Types Of CA Motorcycle Degloving Injuries?
A motorcycle degloving injury can affect various appendages, with the hand and foot being the most commonly injured. Underlying fractures often accompany this traumatic injury due to the force of the accident and the lack of protection for motorcycle riders. These injuries are severe and can result in significant blood loss and tissue death, making them life-threatening, which requires immediate and extensive medical care.
There are two main types of motorcycle degloving injuries. Both types are considered to be serious and require prompt medical attention to prevent complications, and protect your life.
What Is Closed Degloving?
A closed degloving injury in a motorcycle accident is less visible than open degloving injuries but no less painful and serious. Unlike other motorcycle degloving injuries, a closed degloving injury may not be immediately apparent, which can cause a delay in receiving a proper diagnosis and treatment. A bruise may be the only visible sign that a motorcyclist has sustained a closed degloving injury. However, beneath the skin, severe damage could have occurred. After a motorcycle accident, it is very important to seek medical attention, as doctors often use MRI scans and ultrasounds to detect degloving injuries that have caused lesions that may be filled with blood, lymph fluid, and fat. These lesions typically form beneath the skin layers where the degloving happened. Due to the high risk of infection, careful monitoring and medical treatment are essential for a proper recovery from closed degloving injuries after a motorcycle accident in California.
Open Motorcycle Degloving Injuries
Open degloving injuries, which are also known as external degloving injuries, are more visible and traumatic than closed motorcycle degloving injuries. In a motorcycle accident, this type of injury occurs when a section of skin and tissue is violently torn away, and is typically caused by sliding or being dragged across the road. Open degloving injuries leave the underlying muscles, tendons, connective tissue, and sometimes bones exposed. The skin may be completely removed or left hanging from the body, creating a highly graphic and painful injury. Open degloving injuries can happen to any part of the body, but they are most commonly seen on the:
- Legs
- Torso
- Scalp
- Hands
Like closed degloving injuries, open degloving motorcycle accident injuries are severe and often require immediate medical intervention due to the risk of infection, significant blood loss, and potential tissue death. Prompt medical treatment, which often includes surgery, skin grafts, and long-term care, is essential for a proper recovery. Open degloving injuries can have a lasting impact on a motorcycle accident victim’s physical and emotional well-being.
Common Causes of Degloved Foot Motorcycle Accident Injuries in California
Degloving injuries in motorcycle accidents, especially involving the foot, are severe and occur when the skin and soft tissue are ripped away from the underlying structures, such as bones, muscles, and tendons. These types of injuries can result from the forceful impact of a crash or the scraping of the foot against the road surface.
The most common causes of foot degloving injuries in motorcycle accidents include:
- Lack of Protective Footwear: Motorcyclists who don’t wear proper riding boots are at a higher risk of degloving injuries. Regular shoes or sandals offer little to no protection, leaving the foot exposed during a crash.
- High-Speed Collisions: The impact of high-speed accidents can cause the rider’s foot to be dragged along the road, leading to the skin being torn away, especially when the rider is thrown from the motorcycle.
- Sliding on Asphalt or Concrete: During a fall or slide, the foot may make prolonged contact with the road surface. Friction against rough surfaces like asphalt can cause the skin to be ripped away, resulting in a degloving injury.
- Entrapment of the Foot: The foot may become trapped between the motorcycle and another object, such as a car, barrier, or even the ground. The force of the collision or crushing can cause severe skin and soft tissue damage, leading to degloving.
- Crushing Injuries: If the motorcycle falls onto the rider’s foot, or if the foot is run over by another vehicle, the pressure can result in a degloving injury.
- Inadequate Motorcycle Gear: Beyond just footwear, lack of reinforced pants or protective gear can increase the risk of foot and leg injuries in accidents.
Like all degloving injuries, degloved foot motorcycle accident injuries require immediate medical attention, as they can lead to severe infection, blood loss, and permanent damage to the foot. Wearing appropriate motorcycle gear, including armored boots, can help reduce the risk of such injuries.
Seeking Treatment For Motorcycle Degloving Injury
The treatment options for a motorcycle degloving injury in California vary depending on the severity of the injury, location on the body, and whether broken bones are involved. Given the complexity of these injuries, victims may need to be transferred to specialized trauma centers that are more equipped to handle skin repairs.
For open degloving injuries, treatments often involve complicated procedures such as:
- Skin reattachment
- Reattachment of fingers or toes
- Skin grafts to cover the exposed tissue
In some severe cases, the damage to the skin or appendage may be too extensive, and amputation may be necessary to prevent further complications like infection or tissue death.
For less severe closed degloving injuries, treatment may include treatments that support healing under the skin lesions, like:
- Compression bandages
- Extensive physical therapy
However, more serious degloving cases may require draining fluid from the lesion and surgically removing any dead tissue. In some cases, injections into blood vessels may be required to help them shrink and promote better circulation to the damaged area. Regardless of the type of degloving injury, prompt medical attention and specialized care are essential for a proper recovery.
Contact a CA Motorcycle Degloving Injury Accident Lawyer Near You
If you’ve sustained a motorcycle degloving injury in Modesto or Stockton, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced team of California motorcycle accident lawyers at Roberts Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that these severe injuries can take on motorcycle accident victims, and we are dedicated to helping you secure the compensation you deserve. Our team has the experience to help you through the complexities of your case, allowing you to focus on your recovery while we fight for your rights. Contact us today by calling (209) 488-5327 in Stockton or (209) 488-5210 in Modesto for a free consultation and let us be the advocate you need during this challenging time.
Sources:
- https://safetrec.berkeley.edu/2023-safetrec-traffic-safety-facts-motorcycle-safety
- https://tims.berkeley.edu/summary.php?showArea=city&expandTables=false&injury=2&yearRange=3&showMap=motor
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