Motorcycle Safety and Helmet Use in New Jersey

November 06, 2012

Motorcycle Safety and Helmet Use in New Jersey

Even though traffic accident fatalities are down overall, motorcycle fatalities are on the rise across the country. The increasing number of deadly motorcycle crashes makes it all the more important to focus on motorcycle safety.

According to the Federal Highway Administration?, about 2,500 motorcycles are involved in crashes every year in New Jersey. While the number of fatalities related to motorcycle accidents has remained near 60 over the last two years in New Jersey, the previous handful of years saw over 350 motorcyclist deaths occur on the state's highways. Since motorcyclists are so vulnerable, it is that much more important to practice good safety habits.

One of the most important motorcycle safety decisions is to wear a helmet. Motorcycle helmets reduce death by 37 percent and the risk of head injury by 69 percent. New Jersey has a universal motorcycle helmet law that requires all riders to wear a helmet. But, do you know how to pick out a safe helmet?

The motorcycle helmet you and your passengers wear should meet federal safety requirements, and there are certain characteristics that indicate whether or not a helmet meets the federal standard. To start, a safe helmet should weigh around three pounds. Light helmets that weigh one pound or less are not safe. A helmet that meets the federal safety requirement should have a thick inner liner made of firm polystyrene foam. A helmet that falls below the standard lacks padding or provides only soft foam padding.

The design of the helmet is also an indication of safety. Helmets with spikes or other decorations that extend more than two-tenths of an inch from the surface of the helmet likely do not meet federal safety standards. Skullcaps and noticeably thin helmets also do not meet the safety standard. Safe helmets should also have sturdy chinstraps with durable rivets.

Labels can also signify whether a helmet meets federal safety standards. Helmets that meet federal safety requirements are labeled with "DOT" stickers. However, some novelty helmet sellers provide separate DOT stickers for helmets that do not meet the standard. Fortunately, there are other indicators.

Manufacturers are required under federal rules to provide a label that states the manufacturer's name, size, model, construction materials and year of manufacture. A helmet without a manufacturer's label probably does not meet the federal safety standard. Helmets with Snell or ANSI labels meet the private safety groups' standards and therefore the federal standard.

It is important to not only wear a helmet while riding but wear a helmet that provides a proven measure of safety. The failure to wear a proper helmet may negatively impact or impede a motorcyclist's legal recovery if an accident occurs. The lack of a helmet or a proper helmet may be viewed as contributory negligence to the accident or injury. Therefore, always be sure to wear a proper motorcycle helmet.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact an experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney to review your legal options.

Article provided by Palmisano & Goodman, P.A.
Visit us at http://www.palmisanoandgoodman.com