If you participate in any sport or mode of transportation that requires a helmet, you should always wear one. In the event of an accident, a helmet can save your life. The following consider statistics on helmet safety in regard to bicycling and motorcycle riding.
Helmets Reduce Risk of Head Injury by 50 Percent When Cyclists Wear Them
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury in the event of an accident by up to 50 percent. It also can reduce the risk of an injury to the head, face or neck by 33 percent. In recent years, fewer than 17 percent of fatally injured cyclists wore helmets at the time of their crashes. In other words, 83 percent of fatal cycling accidents involved un-helmeted riders.
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Helmets Key in Motorcyclist Injury Prevention, Too
Helmets aren’t just for cyclists – they’re also extremely important for motorcyclists. According to 2012 data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), wearing a helmet saved the lives of 1,699 motorcyclists that year. The data also state that had all motorcyclists involved in crashes that year been wearing helmets, an additional 781 lives could have been saved.
The NHTSA claims that wearing a helmet is 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries for a motorcycle rider and 41 percent effective for motorcycle passengers. In 2012, 42 percent of motorcyclists killed in fatal crashes were not wearing helmets at the time of their accidents.
Helmet Laws in Ohio
In Ohio, the law is very lax for cyclists and motorcyclists regarding helmets. For motorcyclists, only riders ages 17 and under are required to wear a helmet; for bicyclists, there is no statewide helmet law. However, there are city laws that require riders to wear a helmet – most of them are for riders under the age of 18 only, however.
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Choosing the Right Helmet for You
Wearing a helmet is the only important component of helmet safety – whether you’re a motorcyclist or a bicyclist, you need to wear a helmet that meets DOT or Snell standards and that fits you properly.
If you’re not wearing a helmet and are involved in an accident, you’re at risk of incurring a traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion or worse. If you need help recovering compensation, don’t hesitate to call Bressman Law offices. You can reach us at (614) 538-1116.
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