What Is a Degloving Injury in Wilmington, NC?

A torn glove. That’s the image most people picture when they hear “degloving.” But this isn’t about a piece of clothing. It’s about your skin. A degloving injury occurs when layers of skin and soft tissue are forcibly peeled away from the muscle, bone, or connective tissue underneath. It’s a rare but devastating injury that often happens in serious accidents, and it can change your life in an instant.

If you or someone you love is dealing with this kind of trauma in Wilmington, North Carolina, you’re likely juggling intense pain, mounting medical expenses, and concerns about your future. Maybe you’ve had surgery, or several. Maybe you’ve lost income. And maybe you’re wondering what your legal options are. This blog explains what degloving injuries involve, how they happen, and what legal and medical steps you may need to take.

What Happens During a Degloving Injury?

A degloving injury involves the physical separation of skin and underlying tissue from the structures beneath. It’s one of the most serious types of soft tissue injuries, typically caused by forceful trauma.

Degloving injuries are divided into two categories:

• Open degloving injuries: The skin is torn off, exposing muscle, bone, or tendons underneath. These are usually obvious and require immediate medical intervention.
• Closed degloving injuries: The skin remains intact, but the internal separation causes blood and fluid to collect under the surface. These are harder to detect and may go undiagnosed for days or even weeks.

These injuries often require:

• Emergency surgery
• Skin grafts or flap reconstruction
• Ongoing physical therapy
• Long-term wound care
• Multiple follow-up procedures

In severe cases, amputation may be required.

Common Causes of Degloving Injuries

Degloving injuries can happen in various types of accidents, many of which involve high force or crushing pressure. In Wilmington and across North Carolina, these injuries often stem from:

• Motor vehicle accidents, especially when arms or legs are pinned or dragged
• Bicycle accidents, where the limb is caught between the frame and another object
• Pedestrian accidents, particularly when someone is dragged along a roadway
• Industrial or workplace accidents, often involving machinery or heavy equipment
• Farm equipment accidents, which may result in traumatic entanglement
• Falls from significant heights or crushing under collapsed structures

These are classified as catastrophic injuries because of their life-altering consequences. In many cases, the physical and emotional distress is compounded by lost wages, permanent disability, and long-term pain.

Medical Treatment and Long-Term Impact

If you've suffered a degloving injury, you're likely already familiar with the intensity of the treatment process. Recovery depends on the location and severity of the injury and how quickly you received medical attention.

Here’s what that treatment process may include:

• Emergency stabilization and debridement. Removal of dead or contaminated tissue to reduce infection risk.
• Surgical intervention. Depending on the injury, surgeons may use skin grafts or flap reconstruction. Grafts involve transplanting healthy skin from another part of your body, while flaps transfer tissue (and sometimes muscle) with its blood supply intact. Flap surgery is more complex but often required for deeper or larger wounds.
• Hospital stays, sometimes lasting weeks or months. You may face multiple surgeries, wound vac therapy, and careful infection monitoring.
• Ongoing medical care. Long-term treatment may include hyperbaric oxygen therapy to promote healing, as well as pain management plans for nerve damage or chronic discomfort.
• Physical therapy, especially if the injury involves joints or affects mobility. Rebuilding strength and function can take months and often continues after wounds have closed.
• Psychological counseling. Many people struggle with trauma-related anxiety, depression, or body image concerns following this kind of injury.

Degloving injuries often result in permanent injuries, including:

• Loss of mobility or range of motion
• Nerve damage leading to numbness, weakness, or chronic pain
• Scarring or disfigurement, which may require cosmetic surgery
• Increased risk of infection, especially in cases involving exposed bone or tendon

Even with treatment, you may face restrictions on your ability to work, drive, or care for yourself. The toll on your well-being can be significant—not just physically, but emotionally and financially. That’s why it’s important to factor in future medical expenses, lost wages, and the full impact on your quality of life when pursuing a legal claim.

Beyond the physical toll, degloving injuries also raise serious financial and legal questions, especially when they happen on the job.

What to Know About Degloving Injuries and Workers’ Compensation in North Carolina

If your degloving injury happened on the job, whether in construction, manufacturing, or another high-risk occupation, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits under North Carolina law. These benefits are designed to cover:

• Medical care
• Lost wages
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Disability benefits (temporary or permanent)

Under North Carolina General Statutes § 97-2 , a “work related injury” includes traumatic injuries caused by accidents during employment. If you file a workers’ comp claim, your employer’s insurance should pay for your treatment and partial wage replacement. However, the claims process is rarely simple. You may run into:

• Denied claims due to lack of documentation or alleged pre-existing conditions
• Disputes over whether the injury is truly work-related
• Delays in medical care approval
• Pressure to return to work too soon

If your injury results in permanent disability, you may also be eligible for long-term benefits or a settlement. These are complex determinations, often involving medical experts, wage assessments, and legal arguments. A Wilmington workers’ compensation attorney can guide you through the steps needed to pursue the compensation you're eligible for.

Can You File a Personal Injury Claim?

In cases where your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, such as in a car accident, bicycle crash, or unsafe premises, you may have a personal injury case under North Carolina law.

To succeed in a claim, you’ll need to prove that another party was legally responsible for your injuries. This usually involves showing that the person or company:

• Owed you a duty of care ( e.g. , a safe road, working traffic signals, proper safety guards)
• Breached that duty ( e.g. , reckless driving, failure to maintain equipment)
• Caused your injury
• Left you with damages such as medical bills, lost income, and pain

Depending on the facts, you may seek financial compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Physical therapy and long-term treatment
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Permanent injuries
• Loss of quality of life

In most cases, claims are resolved by negotiating with insurance companies, but some cases go to court if the insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement.

Why These Injuries Require Strong Legal Support

Degloving injuries are severe. You’re not just dealing with a scraped knee or broken bone, you’re dealing with trauma that can derail your life, your livelihood, and your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a legal team who knows how to handle:

• Complex medical documentation
• High-stakes negotiation with insurance companies
• Calculating non economic damages, like pain and suffering
• Filing against multiple responsible parties, if applicable
• Working with experts to project future costs, including economic damages related to lost earning potential

The injury lawyers at a reputable personal injury law firm will take the time to gather evidence, interview witnesses, review your medical records, and fight for the maximum amount possible under North Carolina law. While legal support can make a difference, timing matters just as much.

Time Limits Under North Carolina Law

The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in North Carolina is three years from the date of the accident. This includes claims for car accidents, bicycle accidents, and workplace negligence (outside of workers’ compensation claims).

However, the deadline may be shorter in certain cases, such as if a government entity is involved. If you’re considering a claim, it’s important to act quickly to preserve evidence, protect your rights, and avoid missing critical deadlines.

What to Do After a Degloving Injury

Here are some practical steps to take if you or someone close to you suffers a degloving injury in Wilmington, NC:

1. Get immediate medical attention. Don’t delay care as serious infections and complications can arise quickly.
2. Document everything. Keep records of your treatment, medical bills, and communications with employers or insurers.
3. Report the injury. If it happened at work, report it to your employer right away and request a Form 18 from the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
4. Avoid signing anything from insurance companies. They may offer a quick settlement that doesn’t reflect the full extent of your damages.
5. Speak with a catastrophic accident lawyer. A local attorney who knows how to handle serious injuries like yours can explain your options and take action on your behalf.

Degloving Injuries Are Rare, but Devastating

Degloving injuries aren’t common, but when they happen, the damage is immediate and long-lasting. These injuries impact not just your body, but your livelihood, your mental health, and your long-term financial stability. Whether you suffered a work related injury, a car accident, or were injured due to someone else’s actions, you don’t have to deal with the aftermath alone.

Medical care, workers compensation, personal injury claims, and long-term recovery all take time, focus, and resources. Having the right legal team by your side can make a significant difference in the outcome.

You Focus on Recovery. We’ll Handle the Rest.

At Speaks Law Firm, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a degloving injury can take. These aren’t minor accidents. They’re life-altering events that require a serious legal response.

Our Wilmington, NC personal injury lawyers are ready to take on the insurance companies, push back against low settlement offers, and pursue full compensation for your injuries and losses. We’ve recovered millions for injured people across North Carolina, and we bring that same focus and determination to every case.

If you suffered a catastrophic injury like this, don’t wait. Call (888) 222-1111 for a free case evaluation, or contact us through our confidential online form. You’ll meet with a legal team that listens, builds strong cases, and puts your needs first.

While you wait for your FREE consultation, we invite you to check out our podcast, Personal Injury Lawyer Podcast with American Injury Lawyer Clarke Speaks.

Who speaks for you? We do!