There are all kinds of novelty motorcycle helmets on the market today. From helmets that look like skulls to spiked headgear, army helmet reproductions, and alien head safety hats, a new rider can find a helmet in pretty much any style they could possibly imagine. If you've got your eye on an outlandish helmet, though, think carefully before you go ahead and make the purchase. If it doesn't meet federal safety guidelines and you're involved in an accident while wearing it, your head isn't the only thing at risk -- your wallet is in big trouble, too.
What Are The Laws Regarding Motorcycle Helmets?
At one time, the federal government drafted a set of motorcycle helmet laws and refused highway safety funds to states that didn't abide by those laws. The laws required any motorcycle driver or passenger to wear a helmet that complied with federal safety standards, regardless of their age.
The federal government no longer holds authority over motorcycle helmet safety laws, but 19 states still follow the original rules. Other states often impose partial motorcycle helmet laws, such as riders must wear helmets that comply with federal safety guidelines if they are under a certain age or don't meet a set amount of insurance coverage. In three states (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire), there are no rules governing motorcycle helmets.
How Do You Know If Your Helmet Complies With The Law?
If you're unsure of the motorcycle helmet laws in your state, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to find out more about them. If you learn that you're required to wear a helmet that complies with federal safety standards while riding your bike, look for one that is heavy, has a thick inner lining, sturdy straps, and has no design features that extend off from the helmet.
If you're still confused about whether or not the helmet you're considering meets safety guidelines, enter its label information online. Some sites will automatically check its database for a match and let you know whether or not the helmet meets federal safety standards.
What Are The Dangers Of Using A Helmet That Doesn't Meet Compliance?
Even if your state doesn't require you to wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards, it's a good idea to do so. If you're ever in an accident due to the actions of a negligent driver, whether or not you were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, as well as what type of helmet you were wearing, is likely to come into play.
If you were to sustain head injuries during an accident with a negligent driver, the other party involved could claim that your injuries wouldn't have been so severe if you were wearing a proper motorcycle helmet. Even if you were following every rule of the road and the other driver slammed into you out of nowhere, they can still claim that you are partially responsible for your injuries because you weren't wearing safety gear, or because your safety gear didn't comply with federal safety regulations.
While your choice of helmet will play a bigger role in personal injury cases in states that have helmet laws, wearing a helmet in a no motorcycle law state can help prove you're a responsible driver, thus making it more likely that you won't lose a percentage of your injury compensation because a jury deems you partially at fault for your injuries.
Think long and hard before you go out and purchase a helmet just because it's unique or interesting. Wearing a motorcycle helmet that meets the safety standards set forth by the federal government not only limits your risk of sustaining a head injury in the event of an accident, but it also increases the odds that you'll receive full compensation for any injuries you sustain from a collision with a negligent driver. Click here for more information.
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