Road Rash

The term "road rash" is generally used to describe shallow abrasions caused by the friction that results when skin moving at speed meets the ground or other unmoving surface. Cyclists, skateboarders and inline skaters are particularly prone to this sort of injury. Although road rash doesn't typically result in a great deal of bleeding, it can be extremely painful due to the exposure of nerve endings in the abraded skin.

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Rollerblading accident - LINK

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Motorbike road rash - LINK

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In September 2005, Brittany Morrow, a 22-year-old Albuquerque, N.M., resident, climbed on the back of a 2004 Suzuki GSX-R750. At some point, Brittany fell of the bike, following a 522-foot tumble down the highway, in a bikini and shorts. - LINK

Yellow anemic abrasions when dragged by a car

Here the 'road rash' appears bright red because the victim was alive while being dragged

Seatbelt laceration

Seatbelt laceration

Motor Vehicle Accidents and Motor Vehicle Pedestrian Accidents

Properly interpreting injury patterns can provide useful information for accident reconstruction. The injuries to the body can be the equivalent of a statement from the only unbiased witness to the accident. Information the pathologist provides helps law enforcement, attorneys, and surviving loved ones understand what happened, where the occupants were seated, how quickly they died, and potential causes for the accident. Paying attention to recurring patterns of injuries can also potentially lead to improvements in automobile design and safety equipment.
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Small, linear, angulated injuries created by characteristic cube-shaped fragments of tempered glass.

Stretch lacerations. These superficial, parallel, serpiginous tears were created from hyperextension of the joint and overstretching of the skin.

Large brush abrasions or "road rash." Despite their extensive appearance, minimal to no subcutaneous hemorrhage may be present beneath these injuries.

Characteristic linear abrasions created by the parallel rain grooves in the roadway.

Seatbelt injury. Note the diagonal abraded contusion across the chest and abdomen, as well as the horizontal contusion along the waistline. This was clearly a right-sided, belted passenger.

Bumper fracture. This image shows a typical tibia fracture and associated soft-tissue hemorrhage resulting from bumper impact.

mages following a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. Note the typical impacts to the grill, hood, and windshield (left) and the patterned injuries on the pedestrian (right).

Photographs following a pedestrian struck by a truck. Another example of patterned injuries from a grill. Notice how high on the body the impact was.