Risks of Riding a Motorcycle Without a Helmet
Many people ride motorcycles because of the feeling of freedom. For some riders, wearing a helmet seems contrary to that freedom and abandon. Wearing a helmet, however, can be the difference between an accident simply being an unpleasant experience and an accident causing a life-changing or life-threatening injury. Below, we discuss the risks of riding a motorcycle without a helmet. If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Indiana, call a seasoned Indianapolis motorcycle crash lawyer for advice and representation.
Helmet Efficacy by the Numbers
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 5,000 people die each year across the country from motorcycle accidents. Many of these fatalities could have been avoided had riders been wearing helmets. The statistics demonstrate:
- Per NHTSA, helmets are 37 percent effective at saving the lives of motorcycle drivers, and 41 percent effective at saving the lives of passengers
- Forty-one percent of all people who died on motorcycles in 2016 were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. In Indiana, the number was even higher. Here, 75 percent of motorcycle riders killed in 2016 in Indiana were not wearing a helmet.
- According to NHTSA, if everyone had been wearing helmets at the time of their crashes, an additional 802 lives could have been saved. As it stands, around 1,800 people a year survive crashes as a result of wearing a helmet.
Riders who do not wear helmets are at significantly increased risk of severe head trauma, coma, and death. Helmets protect riders from injuries including:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion
- Facial fractures
- Shattered jaws
- Dental injuries and loss of teeth
- Ear damage
- Eye damage
- Facial disfigurement and scarring
Safety experts agree: helmets work. The myths that surround helmet use–helmets break necks, helmets block vision, helmets impair hearing–have been thoroughly and consistently disproven. Experts agree that helmets are a near-universal benefit to motorcycle riders, and they are strongly encouraged even where not required by state law.
If you ride a motorcycle, make sure to wear a helmet. Make sure the helmet fits appropriately and is compliant with the U.S. Department of Transportation safety requirements. New, unused helmets are best, and it is important to ensure they are made from quality materials. Save your face, your head, your bones, and your life.
Help With Your Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Injury Claim
Whether you were wearing a helmet or not, you should still be able to pursue a claim against a negligent driver who causes a crash. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a traffic accident in Indiana, contact the passionate and professional Indianapolis personal injury lawyers at Lee Cossell & Feagley, LLP for a free consultation on your case at 316-631-5151.