Recent insurance studies indicate that the average medical claims from
motorcycle accidents rise by more than a half for countries that dropped
laws requiring riders to wear helmets. Across many countries, riders
opposed to the use of these helmets chip away at these laws while
fatalities arising from these accidents are ever increasing day by day.
Collision between an automobile and a motorcycle may not likely be good
for the motorcycle rider especially when he is not wearing a helmet.
This imbalance is why several states enacted laws for motorcycle riders,
the logic being that some protection was better than none at all and
would increase survival rates immensely. Many states make the use of
helmets mandatory for all motor cyclists regardless of their age group.
Proper and responsible use of helmets will dramatically reduce
fatalities in accidents involving motor cycles. An important point to
consider when choosing a motorcycle helmet is not only the price but the
safety factors the helmet offers. Besides offering safety to riders,
some helmets are specially made to offer comfort to long distance
riders. They are fitted with a fabric interior to make them comfortable.
Motorcycles account for about 2% of all road users, yet fatalities
arising from them account to 14% of all traffic accidents. Government
organs across the world have supported mandatory helmet for all riders.
In almost all nations, the tax payer is always burdened with footing
incurring medical bills, including long time cases of brain injuries as a
result of these accidents. It is therefore in their interest and the
interest of the rider to cut this cost by wearing a helmet. Indeed this
is hard evidence that requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets and
thereby have an effect in reducing these costs.
Highway safety administration in many states point out that there is
about 35% likelihood that a motorcycle rider who is in an accident
without wearing a helmet will have a serious head injury. Out of that
35%, there is another 15% chance of a fatality for these riders. While
some motorcycle riders dislike the idea of having to wear helmets, these
statistics alone are enough to make most of these riders choose to wear
helmets every time they think of firing up their motorcycles. For more information regarding helmet laws in Michigan, take a look at http://theclarklawoffice.com/auto-accident-attorneys/
It is important to note that all motorcycle helmets conform to specific
standards set by different states. These standards are often crafted
and regulated by different traffic departments of these states. Helmets
meeting these requirements always have a traffic department approved
sticker on the back of the helmet.
Some states do not have helmet laws at all. The little they have if any,
are based on the assumption that experienced and older motor cycle
riders do not need helmets. Fatality reports in these states show that
rate of fatalities arising from this negligence was slightly less than
40%, and these were much common to people above 40 years, and that head
injuries were the cause of all these fatalities.
Several states have embarked on loosening some of the mandatory helmet
laws. This has been mainly by setting minimum insurance claims. However,
this does not come close to a life-long care given to a severely brain
injured survivor on a government sponsored medical care.
The Importance of Motorcycle Helmet Laws
by David M Clark on Jun. 19, 2013
Summary
A brief overviews of the importance of Motorcycle Helmet laws.