Georgia Motorcycle Accidents: Importance of Certified Helmet Use
Motorcycle enthusiasts are among the most vulnerable motor vehicle users on Georgia roads. Motorcycles lack the protective bulk and mass of cars and have an unforgiving nature when a rider needs to make sudden emergency maneuvers to respond to the negligence of other drivers. Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious risks faced by those involved in serious motorcycle accidents in the Atlanta area and elsewhere throughout the state of Georgia.
Even if someone riding a motorcycle does everything right, the risk posed by passenger vehicle and truck drivers is substantial. Three quarters of all motorcycle accidents involve multiple vehicles, with the other driver violating a rider's right of way causing over two thirds of these accidents. No matter how careful a rider is while traveling throughout Georgia, there is a risk of being involved in a serious motorcycle accident. Collision avoidance is a common factor in motorcycle accidents as studies indicate that the typical motorcycle accident provides a rider with less than two seconds to complete all accident avoidance maneuvers. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we routinely represent those injured in motorcycle accidents throughout the Atlanta area and the entire state of Georgia.
The above data make it obvious that a rider in Georgia faces a significant risk of being involved in motorcycle collision. Traumatic brain injuries and other head and facial injuries are common in motorcycle accidents, which makes wearing a helmet critical to a rider's safety. Nonetheless, less than 40% of riders involved in motorcycle accidents wear helmets. The reasons given by riders for not wearing helmets are rather weak when viewed in the context of the risk involved. Amongst riders that did not wear helmets during accidents, 26% of such riders indicated that they did not wear a helmet because it was uncomfortable while 53% indicated they did not expect to be involved in a motorcycle collision. This is very unrealistic given that 5,290 motorcycle riders were killed on our nation's roads last year and another 96,000 injured. The use of a helmet that meets minimum safety requirements can make an enormous difference in the outcome of a motorcycle accident. Motorcyclists that are involved in motorcycle accidents while wearing a helmet are 37% less likely to be killed and 67% less likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries.
Unfortunately, there is a growing trend even among riders who wear helmets to wear novelty helmets that do not meet minimum safety requirements. Wearing helmets that meet minimum safety standards can prevent many serious injuries in motorcycle accidents in Georgia and throughout the country. The US Department of Transportation certifies hundreds of helmets every year as meeting minimum safety standards. Such helmets have an inner lining that protects the head during impact, as well as strong rivets, protective chin straps, and other features that help prevent head and facial injuries during an accident. Novelty helmets may provide little if any protection at all to riders involved in serious motorcycle accidents. Riders who wear helmets that meet minimum safety standards show reduced head and neck injury at all levels of severity. Helmets that provide full facial protection also result in significantly reduced risk of facial injuries. It is important to understand the serious risk that riders face when they decide to wear no helmet or novelty helmets that do not meet minimum safety requirements.
If you or your loved one has suffered serious injuries or been killed while riding a motorcycle in the Atlanta area or anywhere throughout Georgia, the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, can help you obtain compensation for the damages you and your family have suffered. We have been fighting hard to protect the rights of motorcycle accident victims throughout the state of Georgia for over 39 years.
Call Montlick & Associates today to see how we can help. Our Georgia motorcycle accident attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333), or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter where you are in Georgia, we are just a phone call away and we will even come to you.