Motorcyclists in the state of Florida are not required to wear a helmet so long as:
- They are over the age of 21 and
- They carry at least $10,000 of Medical Payment Insurance
Similarly, passengers of motorcycles are not required to wear a helmet so long as they are over the age of 21.
Why Wear a Motorcycle Helmet?
Helmets save lives. This isn’t a slogan. It’s not a selling point for C-DOT-approved helmets. It’s a verifiable and data-driven fact.
According to a Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) study, motorcyclists who wore a helmet were 67% less likely to suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Riders and passengers who failed to wear a helmet during the course of this study were three times more likely to suffer TBI. It should be noted that TBI is a contributing factor in 30% of all injury-related deaths in the United States.
A study conducted at the University of Southern California found that helmet use was the single most important factor in surviving a motorcycle accident. This is consistent with findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which reports that helmetless motorcyclists are “approximately 32 times more likely to die in a crash than someone riding in an automobile.”
Understanding Your Legal Rights
Not only are you more likely to survive a motorcycle accident if you are wearing a helmet, but you are also more likely to secure fair compensation for your injuries in these cases as well.
Failure to adhere to common-sense safety protocol gives fodder to insurance companies and defense attorneys looking to minimize your compensation. If it can be established that your injury was caused or exacerbated by your own recklessness, you may diminish the amount of compensation you are entitled to.
We Are Here to Help
Regardless of your helmet use, if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Florida, Kelleher Law is here to help. Please call us at (833) 546-3675 to schedule your complimentary consultation today. We maintain offices in Naples, Fort Myers, and Atlanta, GA. We serve all surrounding areas of Florida.
