Currently, 19 states (including Virginia and Maryland) and the District of Columbia have laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet, known as universal helmet laws. Laws requiring only some motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 28 states (for instance for those riders 17 or 18 years of age and younger). There is no motorcycle helmet use law in three states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire). The requirement that riders were a helmet is an attempt to prevent catastrophic head injuries to motorcyclists involved in accidents.
It would seem that any helmet is better than no helmet, researchers have developed a so-called “Smart Helmet,” to better protect motorcyclists. Reuters reported that a new option in safety gear is available for purchase. At around $600 consumers can buy “reality helmets” that offer built in 180⁰ “blind spot” camera and “Heads-up” display for “unparalleled situation awareness and safety.” Some helmets will even come with collision warning systems.
The “smart helmet” was designed by a man who survived a motorcycle accident himself. Marcus Weller, worked toward realizing his dream of developing a safer, smarter helmet to help protect those on motorcycles. In sum, the blind spot camera removes blind spots, and gives riders a better chance of avoiding unseen conditions that might cause accidents. While this is a fantastic step in the right direction, even the smartest helmet on the market won’t help the motorcyclist who wasn’t seen by another driver, or didn’t realize the motorcyclists had the right of way.
Recently, in 2013 motorcycle fatalities fell 6.4 percent to 4,668 from 4,986 in 2012. In 2013, 56 out of every 100,000 registered motorcycles was involved in a fatal crash, compared with only 9 out of every 100,000 passenger cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Motorcyclists should always wear the gear that makes they feel the safest. At the same time, they always need to be aware that there are d angers on the road that cannot be prevented, to which they can fall victim. When a motorcyclists has been injured in a collision with another motor vehicle, they have every right to obtain the compensation they need to make themselves whole again after the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, call the Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick today for a free consultation.
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Reuters, “Smart helmet gives you eyes on the back of your head,” Ben Gruber, Nov. 12, 2015