Why are California motorcycle helmet laws so strict? What should you do, if you or someone you love was injured in an accident while riding–with or without a helmet?
By Steve Parker from Ash Vale, UK [CC-BY-2.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
According to California law, safety helmets are required. Both drivers and passengers on motorcycles are required to wear safety helmets.
Why are California helmet laws so strict?
The answer is simple: statistics tell us that helmet use saves lives and prevents injuries–particularly traumatic brain injuries.
Per the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), states with all-rider helmet laws, such as the Golden State, tend to see fewer gruesome accidents than do states without these laws. Meanwhile, a group called the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety has found that “helmets are estimated to be 37% effective for preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists.”
Believe it or not, the United States passed the first major helmet use laws way back in 1966. California failed to implement these provisions until 1992, when the state finally mandated that riders of every age must wear helmets.
What if you or someone you love got hurt while riding–with or without a helmet?
If you got hurt–or if you know someone who was seriously injured or killed–in a California motorcycle accident, you may have dozens of questions about what to do to ensure compensation and justice. You want to hold whoever caused the accident (or created the conditions that teed up the accident through indirect negligence or carelessness) responsible per CA law.
Even if you violated California’s helmet laws, San Francisco accident attorney Daniel Vega can help you. Connect with us today for a free and through consultation, or explore more resources here on our site to learn about your rights and options for remedy.