Many people associate Las Vegas motorcycle crashes with broken bones and head injuries. While those are some of the most common injuries that occur in a motorcycle collision, many people are surprised by how often motorcycle accident burn injuries happen. Lerner and Rowe’s Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyers go over different types of burns that can happen after a bike crash and what you can do to prevent them.
Common Las Vegas Bike Accidents
While traffic accidents can happen anywhere in Las Vegas and for any reason, certain ones arise more frequently. The most common causes of motorcycle accidents are usually due to biker error, motorist error, or a combination of both.
Some common accident causes include:
- Driving Under the Influence
- Failure to Yield
- Lane Splitting
- Distracted Driving
- Visibility Issues
- Blind Turns
- Mechanical Defects
- Speeding
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 84 people died in Nevada motorbike crashes in 2021 and bikers made up 14% of all traffic fatalities nationwide–the highest percentage since the agency began recording statistics in 1975.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are defined as tissue damage caused by exposure to various energy sources, primarily heat, followed by chemicals, electricity, radiation, or even friction. These injuries can affect the skin, underlying tissues, and even organs, depending on the severity. For bikers, there are two major causes of motorcycle accident burn injuries–direct contact with heat and friction.
Burns Caused by Direct Contact with Heat
Some of the most common burns motorcyclists suffer are through direct contact with a hot exhaust pipe, engine, manifold, or muffler. When a passenger vehicle collides with your motorcycle, your leg could graze components that can heat up to 230 degrees Fahrenheit. These parts are so hot, they can burn through normal clothing. Burns can be even worse if you’re wearing shorts in warm summer months instead of jeans or leather pants.
Burns Caused by Road Rash
Road rash, also known as gravel rash, is a colloquial term for a skin abrasion caused by friction with a rough surface. This type of friction burn is especially common in motorcycle crashes, due to a combination of relatively high speeds and exposure. Think of road rash as a scrape on steroids, caused by your skin sliding against pavement, gravel, or other abrasive surfaces.
While road rash can be extremely painful, it is usually not life-threatening and can heal with proper first-aid and cleaning. However, seeking medical attention is essential if the injury is severe, shows signs of infection, or doesn’t show signs of healing after a reasonable time.
Related Content: Las Vegas Motorcycle Accidents: Safety Tips and Steps to Take
Preventing Motorcycle Accident Burn Injuries
You can prevent or minimize motorcycle accident burn injuries by wearing long pants made from heavy material. Many bikers prefer the protection of riding leather while others prefer heavyweight denim. Both of those materials are solid choices for preventing burns, but for longer trips you should consider sturdy, flame-retardant material such as Kevlar or Nomex.
Cover as much of your skin as possible while riding to keep burn injuries to a minimum. In addition to the pants material mentioned above, this means wearing long-sleeved shirts, protective jackets, and tall boots. While you may be tempted to wear lighter and airier clothing during the hot Nevada summer, our motorbike collision attorneys recommend being overprotective.
Anytime you receive burns in an accident, seek medical treatment to determine the severity of the burn. If you do not currently have a doctor or are unsure of which type of specialist to see, Lerner and Rowe’s Nevada motorcycle accident lawyers can connect you with some of the top medical professionals and motorcycle accident burn injury specialists in the state.
Treatments for Bike Accident Burns
After suffering from a burn, a medical professional typically prescribes treatment for your particular injury for proper healing and to prevent infection. Sometimes, minor burns can be treated at home with antibiotic ointment. Severe burns, however, may require more extensive treatment. To understand what kind of treatment you need, it’s important to understand the four levels of burn injuries.
- First-degree burns damage the outer layer of skin and you will likely experience redness, minor swelling, and pain. These are usually treated with over-the-counter medications at home.
- Second-degree burns may be mild or severe. Mild burns are often red with clear blisters and can also be treated at home. Severe burns are white or yellow in appearance and extend deeper into the dermis. These may require advanced medical care like excision and skin grafting.
- Third-degree burns delve below both layers of skin to damage the tissue underneath, sometimes extending to nerves, muscles and even bone. These burns are white or brown in appearance and almost always require excision or skin grafts. In severe cases, they can require surgery and rehabilitation.
- Fourth-degree burns are the most severe, often resulting in permanent nerve, muscle, and bone damage likely. Skin chars black and requires immediate excision for healing to commence, as well as extensive skin grafts. These burns can result in limb damage that requires amputation, can result in severe infections, and may cause death.
Contact a Top Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me
If you have been burned in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver, contact a Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyer at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys. You can reach our Nevada injury lawyers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone at 844-977-1900 and through the Internet via encrypted contact form or LiveChat. Consultations are free and you don’t pay a dime unless a settlement has been recovered on your behalf.
Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys has a proven track record of winning billion-dollar results for motorcycle accident injury victims across the country. Furthermore, our team is committed to helping clients carry the emotional burden of their injuries–a big reason why we’ve earned stellar reviews from our clients. Don’t forget that one call does it all. A call to Lerner and Rowe may be the most important one you’ll ever make.