Published on behalf of Two days ago, a Philadelphia man was seriously injured after a motorcycle accident. According to an online news report by www.abclocal.go.com, the man was not wearing a motorcycle helmet.
Helmet use is crucial to motorcycle riding safety. The problem is that in Pennsylvania, it is perfectly legal to ride without one. Pennsylvania’s motorcycle helmet law is a partial requirement – riders under the age of 21 must wear helmets. Riders over the age of 21 who have had their riding licenses for at least two years and completed an approved motorcycle safety course are not required to wear helmets. This law gives riders a false sense of security, especially young riders.
Riding Without a Motorcycle Helmet is Dangerous
Riding without a helmet is like playing Russian Roulette. While of course, a rider can control his or her actions, he cannot control the actions of others on the road. In an instant, a motorcycle rider may be struck by a car, truck or other motorcycle or may be run off the road. Even the most experienced riders can find themselves in these kinds of situations. Defensive riding is important but does not always prevent an accident.
In Pennsylvania, motorcycle accident fatalities are rising and have been for the past several years. Read more about a preliminary report of the Governors Highway Safety Association discussing motorcycle accident deaths. In the first 9 months of 2012, 184 Pennsylvania residents died in motorcycle accidents. That number is up by roughly 8% from the prior year.
New Jersey, however, saw a decline in the number of riders killed in motorcycle accidents. During the same period in 2012, only 65 riders were killed in New Jersey. That number is a little more than 1/3 of the total accidents in Pennsylvania! Also, the number of NJ residents killed in motorcycle accidents is down from the previous year.
The likely explanation for the stark contrast in the number of motorcycle accident deaths between the two states is New Jersey’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law. Every motorcycle rider is required to wear one. Read more about the importance of helmet use in motorcycle accident injury prevention. It is time for Pennsylvania to amend its motorcycle helmet law. The lives of countless motorcycle riders in Pennsylvania depends on it.
Suggested reading:
- Why Drivers Have Difficulty Seeing Motorcycles
- Pennsylvania Motorcycle Accidents – Steps to Take After an Accident
Pennsylvania Car & Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
The lawyers at Schwartz & Blackman take great pride in representing motorcyclists and have successfully handled many car and motorcycle accident cases. FREE consultations. 215.925.4451
Schwartz & Blackman handles car and motorcycle accident cases in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area:
- PA: Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, Allentown, Lehigh Valley, Norristown, Philadelphia
- NJ: Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Camden, Cherry Hill, New Jersey shore cities
*This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is important to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.