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Wearing a Motorcycle Helmet in New York Can Save Your Life

In New York, a motorcyclist is required to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle and for good reason. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 1984 to 2006, motorcycle helmets were responsible for saving the lives of 19,230 motorcyclists. The NHTSA estimates that if all motorcyclists and passengers had worn helmets during that time period, an additional 12,320 lives could have been spared.

Drivers of motor vehicles are often to blame for serious motorcycle accidents in New York. They sometimes do not see motorcyclists and do not give motorcycles the space that is needed on the road. Motorcyclists do have some control of their safety though, which comes in the form of a motorcycle helmet.

Motorcycle helmets offer the best possible protection from head injuries that result from motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists are already at a disadvantage when they are involved in accidents, as they have very little defense from a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds. A motorcycle helmet at least provides a cushion if the motorcyclist hits the pavement or other hard surface.

The NHTSA has compiled some key facts that show the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets. These facts are summarized below:

• Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents.

• A motorcyclist who is not wearing a helmet is 40 percent more likely to sustain a fatal head injury and 15 percent more likely to sustain a nonfatal injury than a motorcyclist who is wearing a helmet in a motorcycle crash.

• It has been estimated that motorcycle helmets reduce the chance of death in a motorcycle accident by 37 percent.

• According to a study by the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES), motorcycle helmets are 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries and that motorcyclists not wearing a helmet during an accident were three times more likely to suffer brain injuries than those wearing helmets.

• A University of Southern California study that analyzed 3,600 reports covering motorcycle accidents came to the conclusion that wearing a motorcycle helmet was the single most important factor in surviving a motorcycle crash.

• A study by the National Public Services Research Institute found that wearing a motorcycle helmet does not restrict the motorcyclist’s ability to hear signals or see a vehicle in the next lane.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in New York, you may be entitled to compensation for your motorcycle injuries. Contact the experienced New York motorcycle crash attorneys at Rappaport, Glass, Greene & Levine at (800) 734-9445 for a free legal consultation.