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Car crashes can cause degloving injuries

On Behalf of | Jul 7, 2026 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

Vehicle collisions can cause numerous types of severe injuries. High speeds can produce various types of physical trauma, including degloving injuries.

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders struck by vehicles are at significant risk of these injuries. Vehicle occupants can also potentially suffer degloving injuries, especially if they aren’t wearing safety restraints.

What is a degloving injury?

A degloving injury is a traumatic injury to the skin and the connective tissue beneath the skin. It involves the separation of the skin from the tissue that it covers.

Degloving injuries can be open — meaning that the skin breaks and bleeding results. They can also be closed, which means that the skin remains intact despite the trauma. Both types of injuries put people at risk of nerve damage, tissue death and a host of other significant medical complications.

Open degloving injuries can also cause both blood loss and infection. Closed injuries may not draw people’s attention immediately, creating the risk of delayed care.

People who suffer degloving injuries often have major medical expenses, as their injuries can cause debilitating complications and may even endanger their lives. These injuries can also require them to take time away from work or to change professions.

People may find that insurance does not fully cover their losses after a degloving injury, especially if their injuries cause permanent symptoms that affect their future earning potential. Seeking compensation for a degloving injury may sometimes require litigation, as insurance alone may not be sufficient to cover extensive medical expenses, lost wages and lost future earning potential. People with catastrophic car crash injuries often need experienced legal guidance to pursue the financial compensation their losses necessitate.

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