5 Important Facts About Motorcycle Helmets and Georgia Helmet Law

Georgia is one of 19 states that requires all motorcycle riders, operators and passengers, to wear a helmet. Additionally, the Georgia Helmet Law necessitates motorcyclists to wear eye protection if the motorcycle does not have a windshield. Bowen Painter Trial Lawyers understands that many motorcyclists believe wearing a helmet is a personal choice; however, wearing a helmet could save your life and, like it or not, it’s the law.

In addition to life-altering casualties, failing to wear a helmet could hurt you in other ways if you are involved in an accident. Because helmets are required by Georgia Helmet Law, you may not be able to get compensation if you are injured in a motorcycle accident while not wearing one. For example, if you suffer a neck or head injury while not wearing a helmet, your claim may be rejected if you did not wear a helmet when required to do so by law.

Violation of the Georgia Helmet Law is a misdemeanor; however, it could cost you up to $1,000 in fines. It also carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail. While such harsh penalties are generally not imposed, anyone caught operating or riding a motorcycle without the proper protective headgear should expect to pay a substantial fine and/or be required to perform community service work.

5 Important Facts About Motorcycle Helmets and Georgia Helmet Law:

1. Wearing a helmet reduces your chance of death by 37 percent. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, helmets are around 37 percent effective at preventing motorcycle deaths. Moreover, wearing a helmet reduces the risk of a brain injury in an accident by about 67 percent.

2. All motorcycle riders, operators and passengers, must wear a DOT-approved helmet. Georgia Helmet Law is codified in Georgia Statutes Section 40-6-315. Under this law, “no person shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle unless he or she is wearing protective headgear, which complies with standards established by the commissioner of public safety.”

3. Choose the right helmet. The aforementioned Georgia Statute grants the authority to the Georgia Commissioner of Public Safety to approve standards for protective headgear and eye protective devices. When choosing a helmet, make sure it meets the minimum safety standards offered by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The safety standards can typically be found on the inside of the helmet.

4. Make sure the helmet fits perfectly. As simple as it may seem, determining the proper helmet fit can be a challenge. Manufacturers use different criteria when determining size, so each one will be different. A helmet for motorcycle riding should be snug around any part of your head that would be covered by a baseball cap, slightly compressed but not painful. The cheek pads need to be touching, but gaps should exist between the pads for the brow and your temples.

5. Your helmet may need to be replaced. After three or four years, the protective qualities of a helmet may deteriorate and no longer be effective. Replace your helmet at this time or after you have been in an accident.

Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm. Georgia follows the “comparative negligence” doctrine, which means that jurors can assign a percentage of fault to each party involved in the accident.

As a result, if a driver negligently caused an accident by hitting a motorcycle, and the rider sustained a head injury that could have been prevented or less severe if he or she were wearing a helmet, a percentage of fault may be attributed to the rider. At Bowen Painter Trial Lawyers, our motorcycle accident attorneys in Savannah have the skills and knowledge to handle your motorcycle claim. You can contact us online or call us directly at 912-335-1909 for a free consultation.

Disclaimer: Information provided on this site is not formal legal advice. It is generic legal information. Filing a personal injury lawsuit requires a thorough knowledge of the laws and legal system