Car accidents kill the skin. Car accidents lead to 3.4 million visits to the emergency room every year. Most people go to the ER with skin injuries.
Many people assume that skin injuries are insignificant. Some of them can be minor. But any skin injury can lead to complications, so you should know the different types of skin injuries.
What exactly is a bruise? What should you do after you sustain a cut or abrasion? What are the most significant skin injuries, and what does skin injury recovery require?
Answer these questions and you can get the help you need after a skin injury. Here is your quick guide.
Bruising
The skin contains thousands of small blood vessels. A strike on the skin can cause these vessels to break, even if the skin itself does not break.
This can lead to a bruise. The skin becomes discolored because the leaking blood pools against the surface of the skin. A person may feel pain on their bruise, especially when applying pressure against it.
A bruise may be painful, but it is rarely a sign of an advanced problem. A person should seek medical treatment if their bruising does not alleviate after several days. They may have a problem with their blood such as hemophilia.
A black eye is a type of bruise that occurs around the eye. Someone who hits their head on the steering wheel or dashboard can receive one. Anyone who injures their head should get a doctor because they may have bleeding inside their brain.
Road Burn
A road burn or road rash is a friction injury to the skin. It occurs more often in motorcycle accidents when a rider falls off of their motorcycle.
When they scrape or roll against a road, the outer layer of their skin may fall off. This can cause bruising, but the skin may break and bleed.
A road burn is akin to a scrape or paper cut. It may be painful, but it is not a serious injury.
In rare cases, it can lead to an infection, especially if the person injured themselves on glass. An individual should look at their skin for discoloration or swelling.
Someone in a car or bus may experience seatbelt burn. This is a friction injury that their tight seatbelt creates.
It is similar to road burn, though most cases of seatbelt burn do not involve broken skin. A person may experience a significant bruise with pain, but they may not have other side effects. They can give themselves a skin injury ointment to heal the skin.
Minor Cuts
Cuts can occur when an object breaks through the skin. A blunt injury can cause a cut if the skin is dry and breaks open after the collision.
A person may experience a minor amount of bleeding. They may have a bruise around their cut, and they may feel a sharp pain.
Most people can respond to their own minor cuts. They should apply pressure over the cut until bleeding stops or slows.
They should then rub a disinfectant gel or fluid in the area around the cut. Once the gel or fluid dries, they can put a bandage over the entire cut. They can add a piece of gauze if the injury is large.
Major Cuts
A major cut is any cut that measures more than one-quarter of an inch. This measurement can be the length or depth of the cut.
A long yet shallow cut can result in an infection. A piece of dirt can also get under the skin and cause complications such as swelling. A deep cut can cause damage to organs and internal bleeding, which can be fatal.
A person should respond to a significant cut by applying pressure over the injury. If the cut is on their arm or leg, they can apply a tourniquet over their wound. Wrapping a tight belt or cord over the injury will limit the blood flow through the area.
They should remain still as much as possible. Moving around will cause the heart to pump, which can make bleeding worse. Cuts can accompany common spinal injuries from car accidents, and moving can make both injuries worse.
Avulsion
An avulsion is one of the most significant skin injuries from car accidents. It occurs when a piece of skin is torn off during the accident. This may be due to friction, a cut, or a bone fracture.
Any part of the skin can develop an avulsion. Some people experience an avulsion on one or both of their ears, especially after a collision along the side of their vehicle. The ear itself may become severed, which requires surgery.
The eyelid can also have an avulsion. Surgeons can repair eyelid avulsions at most hospitals. A person will be unable to work while their skin heals.
Degloving occurs when a large amount of skin is torn off from the underlying tissue. This removes the blood supply to the tissue, and it can cause significant bleeding.
Degloving is a medical emergency. An injured person should immediately go to the hospital.
Get Help for All Skin Injuries
Skin injuries can cut deep. A bruise involves burst blood vessels immediately beneath the skin. Most bruises heal on their own.
Most road burns and minor cuts do not lead to complications. But a person can get an ointment in order to keep their skin moist.
Major cuts require medical intervention. An individual should try to control the rate of their bleeding. An avulsion is a medical emergency, especially if a large amount of skin is missing.
Once you get medical help, you should get legal help. RHINO Lawyers serves Florida residents. Contact us today.
CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our personal injury team is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.
Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.RHINO.77.
