Because a road rash typically causes a large abrasion, the injuries can be much more painful than minor cuts and scrapes. Legs, knees, hands, elbows, forearms, and chins are common sites of road rash injuries. No part of a person’s body is safe from road rash however, areas of skin that are commonly unprotected are more prone to road rash than others. Skin may scrape away and the friction between your skin and the surface may generate heat, causing a burn. When a person’s skin comes in contact with a rough surface, such as the pavement, any areas of exposed skin are vulnerable. Road rash is an extraordinarily painful combination of a friction burn and an abrasion. Vehicle passengers may experience road rash if the impact of a collision forces them outside of the car and onto the roadway. Pedestrians may sustain road rash after a forceful impact causes them to fall and slide across the rough surface of the roadway or sidewalk.

Oftentimes, however, pedestrians and occupants of passenger vehicles who are involved in an accident suffer road rash. When thinking about road rash, the types of accidents that commonly come to mind are motorcycle and bicycle accidents.

2nd degree road rash