Research has shown that when states adopt more relaxed helmet laws and less restrictive requirements, helmet use decreases and motorcycle-related deaths and injuries increase. Currently only 19 states require all motorcycle drivers to wear helmets, contributing to the growing number of road deaths for motorcyclists across the country.
Helmet use prevents up to 37 percent of fatalities among motorcycle operators and 41 percent of fatalities among passengers, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 2010, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration estimated that helmet use saved the lives of 1,544 motorcyclists.
Defective motorcycle helmets notwithstanding, studies have examined non-fatal injury outcomes among motorcyclists who wore motorcycle helmets and found that hospitalized riders wearing helmets were less likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries. Median hospital costs for those with traumatic brain injuries are 13 times higher than for those without such injuries.
In 2015, over 4,600 motorcyclists were killed in accidents, representing 14 percent of all road traffic deaths. Preventing motorcyclist deaths and injuries with the use of motorcycle helmets and other protective measures also translates to economic savings for the healthcare system and nation.
It is estimated that in 2010 alone, $3 billion in costs were saved as a result of helmet use in the United States. If every rider were required to wear a helmet on the road, another $1.4 billion could have been saved.
Motorcycle Protective Gear & Safety
To be effective and prevent head injury, a helmet must be well-manufactured, meet design and safety standards set by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and should be tested properly by a third party. Consumers should only buy motorcycle helmets compliant with federal standards.
The Consumer Product & Safety Commission (CPSC) has the authority to issue recalls for Cycling Accidents, and has in years past. When helmets fail to meet minimal requirements. Helmet issues may include the following defects:
- Lack of impact-resistant material
- Fastener defects
- Chin strap defects
- Cheap materials
- Reflector defects
- Inadequate warnings
To improve motorcycle safety many road authorities have begun to identify defective motorcycle helmets and mandate the wearing of personal protective equipment, including specialized jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Jackets meant for motorcyclists are typically made of leather, cordura, or Kevlar.
Defective Motorcycle Helmets
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 1.2 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes. Motorcyclists make up more roughly half of those injured or killed on the roads. Millions more are severely injured and permanently disabled. Most deaths are preventable with helmet use.
Head injuries are the main cause of death and disability among motorcycle drivers. Wearing a helmet is the single most effective way to reduce head injuries and fatalities resulting from motorcycle crashes.
Helmet use has been shown to decrease the risk and severity of injuries among motorcyclists by about 70 percent, and cut the likelihood of death by almost 40 percent. However, defective motorcycle helmets are on the market and endanger riders.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated personal injury attorney. After a serious motorcycle accident, victims should contact a legal professional to investigate if defective motorcycle helmets contributed to an injury.
