The Importance of Motorcycle Helmets

There is no question that motorcycle helmets not only save lives, but they can also prevent traumatic brain injuries that can leave victims with lifelong disabilities. According to a new study by The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), universal helmet laws, which require that every motorcycle rider and passenger wear a helmet whenever they ride, can increase helmet use and save lives.
Helmets Save Lives and Money
According to CDC’s statistics, nationwide, motorcycle crashes killed 4,502 people in 2010. Motorcycle-related deaths have increased by 55 percent since 2000, while motorcycle accident injuries and deaths totaled $12 billion a year in medical costs and productivity losses. The numbers also show that when riders choose to protect themselves by wearing a Department of Transportation-approved helmet, an estimated 37 percent of fatalities among motorcycle riders and 41 percent of crash deaths for motorcycle passengers are prevented.
In 2010, annual costs saved as a result of helmet use ranged from a high of $394 million in California, which has universal helmet laws, to a low of $2.6 million in New Mexico, which has a partial helmet law. How are partial helmet laws different from universal helmet laws? While universal helmet laws require all motorcyclists to be helmeted, partial helmet laws require only certain riders, such as those under the age of 21, to wear a helmet.
Universal helmet laws give riders and passengers the extra push they need to be safe. CDC’s analysis of fatal crash data from 2008 to 2010 shows that 12 percent of motorcyclists in states with universal helmet laws were not wearing helmets. That number was as high as 64 percent in states that have partial laws and 79 percent in states with no helmet laws at all.
Motorcycle Safety Tips
With summer in full swing, motorcyclists and their passengers would be well advised to take various safety measures. Here are some tips from the CDC:
• Always wear a DOT-approved helmet.
• Never drive a motorcycle while under the influence. If you have been drinking, get a ride home or call a taxi
• Wear protective clothing and reflective gear so you have a certain level of protection and visibility.
• Maintain a safe speed at all times
• Do not tailgate.
• Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and be mindful of their blind spots.
• Exercise caution while traveling over slippery surfaces or gravel.
Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, the experienced New York personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)