The violent forces involved in car crashes can cause many types of injuries. People can break bones or injure their brains. They can also sustain catastrophic injuries that can be very difficult to treat.
Degloving injuries can be painful and incredibly dangerous. They are also often visually distressing to everyone present at the scene of a crash. Those involved in major collisions, including crashes on motorcycles or bicycles, might be at risk of a degloving injury. They may need help seeking compensation afterward, given the extent of the damage associated with these injuries.
What is a degloving injury?
A degloving injury occurs when trauma peels back or forcibly removes the skin from a body part. Also known as avulsion, degloving injures lead to a loss of blood supply to the skin detached from the body part it covers.
Degloving injuries frequently involve the upper extremities, but they can theoretically involve any body part, including the scalp and face. In addition to being painful and challenging to treat, degloving injuries put people at risk of nerve damage and severe infections. They can cause lasting scars.
People may develop compartment syndrome, where pressure builds in nearby muscles. They could experience lymphedema or an excess of fluids that causes swelling. Their muscles near the injury may shorten or harden. The permanent consequences of a degloving injury can drastically increase an individual’s lifetime medical expenses and noticeably reduce their earning potential in some cases.
People seeking appropriate compensation for catastrophic crash injuries may need help asserting themselves after a collision, and that’s okay. Holding the right party accountable after a degloving incident can help people recoup their losses following major car crashes.