Motorcycles are a way of life for bikers in New Jersey and across the country. A quality motorcycle helmet is just one of the pieces of equipment that you need to keep you safe on the road. However, helmets and gear are not a guarantee of safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2013, 56 motorcyclists were killed in New Jersey. Out of these, 51 had been wearing helmets and two were not.
Advocates for Auto and Highway Safety estimate that helmets saved 1,630 motorcyclists across the United States from being killed in accidents in 2013. If everyone involved in motorcycle crashes had been wearing helmets, an estimated 715 more people might not have been killed. How effective are helmets in preventing life-threatening head injuries? A good helmet may reduce your risk of dying in a crash by 42 percent and your risk of a serious head injury by 69 percent. This is significant, because head injuries are one of the top factors for fatalities and permanent disabilities in the country.
It is important to remember, however, that wearing a helmet does not make you invincible in traffic. There are plenty of other ways to receive serious injuries, such as internal bleeding, broken bones or spine fractures. You will want to remember that other drivers don’t always look out for motorcycles sharing the road. Other vehicles often turn in front of motorcycles, clip them while changing lanes or follow them too closely. A helmet may save your life in a collision, but you’ll be fortunate if you escape the accident unscathed. You have the right to pursue legal action if you are harmed by another driver. This information is not meant to be taken as legal advice.
