Wearing Your Helmet When You Ride a Motorcycle

Motorcycle riders are more likely than other vehicles to be involved in an accident.

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for every mile traveled, there are 30 times more deaths involving motorcycles than cars. Wearing a helmet may save your life and may reduce the prevalence of brain injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents. Additional statistics reveal that motorcycle riders with helmets are three times more susceptible than those without helmets to suffer a brain injury in the event of an accident. Wearing a helmet helps reduce the probability of fatal road accidents by 37 percent, the risk of deaths due to accidents by 42 percent, and the risk of head injuries as a result of an accident by 69 percent.

Increased Risk of Road Accidents

There are a number of reasons why a motorcycle ride carries a higher risk of road accidents than a car ride does. First, it is more difficult to maintain balance on a motorcycle, especially when the brakes are applied suddenly. Second, a motorcycle is often less visible to other drivers on the road. Unlike cars, motorcycles are not covered and thus motorcycle riders are more likely to receive direct, heavy blows from solid objects, such as lampposts or trees alongside the road. This is why it is essential for motorcycle riders to wear helmets and other protective gear, such as gloves and long pants.

Receiving Compensation

Failure to wear a helmet may influence how much compensation a motorcyclist should receive as a result of another party’s negligence. Defense lawyers and insurance adjustors may argue whether or not the victim was wearing a helmet and many jurors’ decisions are impacted by those arguments. Numerous people have a preconceived opinion that motorcycle rides are less safe than car rides and that motorcyclists are not as careful as car drivers. A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet may recover a lesser compensation amount from the person at fault, because in most cases, it is believed that the victim was partially responsible for the injuries because of not wearing a helmet.

St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you have suffered injuries due to a motorcycle accident, contact a St. Louis accident injury lawyer to learn about your legal options. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242 for a free consultation.