Currently, the law states that if you are going to ride a motorcycle in the state of Arizona you must wear a helmet if you are under the age of 18. If you are going to ride a motorcycle at any age, state law mandates that you wear some type of protective eyewear like goggles, a transparent face mask or glasses, unless the motorcycle itself comes equipped with a windshield.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for motorcycle accidents, about 37% of fatalities are prevented when the rider is wearing a helmet. In 2015 alone, over 1770 lives were saved due to riders wearing helmets. Head injuries are by far the most common injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents, and those are indicated to be linked to as many as 50% of all motorcycle-related fatalities. In almost one-third of the victims who were studied post-accident, the head was the only organ that was injured. According to NHTSA, when helmet laws exist, both serious injuries and fatalities in motorcycle accidents are reduced. When helmets are not worn, injuries are far worse and cost the state of Arizona a lot more.
Further proof of the dangers of driving without a helmet are the statistics released by the NHTSA that in 2015, riders who were killed at night were three times more likely to be driving with a BAC that was higher than 0.08, which is legally intoxicated in the state of Arizona. Those who had a BAC level of 0.08 or more were also more likely to not be wearing a helmet. 65% of those who did not have an intoxicated blood alcohol level and were in an accident chose to wear a helmet for protection.
Currently, only 19 states and the District of Columbia have laws that require motorcyclists to wear a helmet, and only 28 states specify that those under a specific age wear one. Although there are no laws in Arizona requiring adults to wear helmets when riding, there are to many safety reasons not to wear one. Not only has it been proven that helmets save lives, but they also help to limit head injuries. Those who are most vulnerable to head trauma are younger children, which is why they are required by law to wear a helmet when riding in Arizona.
Motorcycle accidents tend to be more severe and require more medical attention than other types of accidents, which is why having a motorcycle accident attorney in your corner is imperative to receiving fair compensation for your damages and injuries. If you are in an accident, contact folgerlaw.com to find out what you may be eligible to collect before you take any settlement offer.