California motorcycle laws
are very specific about helmets: You must wear a motorcycle crash helmet whenever you ride. You may not agree that the government should mandate such a thing, but you should know that if you do not wear a helmet, you could be fined. If you are in a collision and suffer a head injury, the defense will claim you are comparably at fault for not protecting your head.
Whether or not you agree with motorcycle helmet laws, it is true that helmets prevent many serious injuries. Helmets cannot prevent an accident, of course, but they have been proven to prevent serious and even deadly closed-head injuries. If you do wear a helmet, make sure it is has the Department of Transportation (DOT) or Snell Foundation labels, which show it complies with specifications required by minimum safety standards of FMVSS 218.
Helmets and Liability in Crashes
If you are in a motorcycle accident in California, and are not wearing a helmet, you may still be able to recover damages. You might not receive compensation for injuries that could have been prevented by wearing a helmet.
How Can They Force Me to Wear a Helmet?
Many legislators have justified motorcycle helmet laws by saying that they keep insurance and health care costs low, or because the state has an interest in motorcycle helmet safety. But many bikers feel that their individual right to choose whether or not to wear a helmet is more important. If you feel this way, there are many organizations dedicated to fighting California motorcycle helmet law.
Contact Our Lawyers
The attorneys of the Dolan Law Firm are very familiar with California motorcycle helmet laws; they are not only experienced motorcycle crash attorneys, but are also motorcycle riders. To get a free evaluation of your case, contact our lawyers right away. We do all work on contingency, which means that we charge you no fees, only winning payment when you win compensation.
