What If I Wasn't Wearing A Helmet In A Motorcycle Accident?

Here at Lowman Law Firm our motorcycle accident lawyers often get asked this question: “I wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time I had my accident. Will that make a difference if I file a claim?”

Well, the first thing to remember about motorcycle accident law in Florida is that every case is unique. Each claim will have different circumstances and a different chain of events that led up to that accident. That said, we’ll address this in general terms.

You can file a claim for your injuries even if you were not wearing a helmet. However, not wearing a helmet could influence the amount of damages you receive. One note of emphasis is whether or not wearing your helmet didn’t cause or make your injuries worse. For example, if your knees were injured and you can’t walk, not wearing a helmet would not have made any difference, and therefore it probably will not make a difference. The motorcycle lawyers  at Lowman Law Firm are eager to review your claim and any concerns you may have about your accident.

A Few Words About Helmets And Safety 

We understand that the feeling of not wearing a helmet is exhilarating. There’s nothing quite like that feeling you get as the wind blows through your hair. But we’ve seen some very tragic consequences of motorcycle wrecks where bikers chose not to wear their helmet. We’ve seen life-altering injuries where riders were forced to transition from earning a stout income to filing for Social Security Disability. We’ve seen family dynamics altered as children had to take charge of the household prematurely because of crippling injuries a parent experienced after a helmetless accident. And we’ve seen too many casualties as a result of riders not wearing a helmet.

We represent bikers and motorcyclists because we know that someone needs to step up and give voice to bikers and enthusiasts. We’re not just familiar with the statistics that often favor automobile drivers, we’re friends with people whose primary mode of getting around is their bike.

That said, the value of motorcycle helmets in reducing deaths and serious injuries has been documented for more than 40 years.  Motorcycle helmets are the best-evaluated way to reduce motorcycle-related deaths and injuries.  In 2006, 4,810 motorcyclists died in crashes and 88,000 were injured in the United States.  Approximately 41 percent (1,957) of those killed were not wearing a helmet.  Only 58 percent of all riders wear helmets today, which is down 13 percent from just four years ago.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,658 motorcyclists in 2006. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 752 lives could have been saved.  Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists.  This means for every 100 motorcyclists killed in crashes while not wearing a helmet, 37 of them could have been saved had all 100 worn helmets.

Were You Injured In An Accident? Call The Motorcycle Accident Lawyer At Lowman Law Firm

At Lowman, we will review your case and advise you what to do next, absolutely free. We do not get paid unless we collect for you. We are an experienced motorcycle accident law firm who keep the biker and motorcyclist first in our mind…and in the courtroom.