Motorcycle Helmet Laws/Debate Surrounding Laws

Serving Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven and Surrounding Areas

Serving Hartford, New Haven and surrounding areas, the law firm of Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC has years of experience in motorcycle accident law and is well-versed in motorcycle helmet laws and the debates surrounding those laws.

Motorcycle accidents result in a significant number of fatalities a year even though motorcyclists represent a minority of drivers on the road. Regardless of who is at fault in a motorcycle accident, motorcycle accident victims are more likely to suffer serious injury and death. In fact, it is estimated that of the more than 60,000 motorcyclists involved in accidents in the United States each year, motorcyclists are eighteen times more likely to be killed and three times more likely to be injured than other vehicle passengers.

Motorcyclists are more prone to crash injuries than other vehicle drivers because motorcycles are unenclosed, leaving the riders vulnerable to contact with hard road surfaces during a crash. While helmets are the principal protection for crash-related head injuries, there is substantial debate regarding the laws on motorcycles helmet use.

The National Transportation Safety Board reports that the number of motorcycle accident fatalities is growing because so many states are repealing their helmet laws. In 1975, 47 states required motorcyclists to wear helmets, now only 20 states and the District of Columbia have helmet laws covering all riders, while 27 states have laws covering some riders, usually people younger than 18. Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire do not have helmet laws at all. Here, in Connecticut, no one under 18 is permitted to operate or ride on a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.

Opponents of mandatory helmet laws claim that such laws inhibit their personal freedom and argue that helmets increase the risk of neck injury and reduce peripheral vision and hearing. Proponents of motorcycles helmet laws cite to the abundance of statistics that show that wearing a helmet reduces the severity of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

Regardless of your personal stance on the motorcycle helmet debate, if you are a motorcyclist, you need to know your state's helmet laws. Additionally, if you are planning a trip that crosses state borders, you must comply with that state's helmet laws as well.

You should also take reasonable precautions to reduce your chance of injury, including:

• Obeying the helmet law of the state you are riding in
• Obeying all traffic laws, especially in regard to speeding, passing, and proper following distance when behind another vehicle
• Remember that other drivers cannot see your motorcycle as well as they can see other cars. Try to increase the visibility of your motorcycle by wearing reflective clothing and keeping the headlight on at all times

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a motorcycle accident, you should contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at your earliest opportunity. The law firm of Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC is familiar with motorcycle accident and mandatory helmet law issues and can evaluate your claim, represent you in any litigation, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and help you to get your life back on track. Contact them today to schedule an initial consultation.

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