{"id":651,"date":"2013-01-04T15:05:00","date_gmt":"2013-01-04T15:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sinklaw.com\/2013\/01\/04\/motorcycle-helmet-laws-to-wear-or-not-to-wear\/"},"modified":"2024-05-08T00:05:14","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T04:05:14","slug":"motorcycle-helmet-laws-to-wear-or-not-to-wear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinklaw.com\/blog\/motorcycle-helmet-laws-to-wear-or-not-to-wear\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorcycle Helmet Laws: To Wear, or Not To Wear?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest blog post by Attorney David Johnston<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

“Get your motor runnin’! Head out on the highway!”\u00a0 But don’t get a ticket while your “Lookin’ for adventure in whatever comes our way”!<\/p>\n

Know the helmet laws of the state in which you ride!<\/p>\n

By the way, the biker’s anthem quoted above is, of course, Steppenwolf’s, “Born to be Wild”.\u00a0 The lyrics were actually penned by Mars Bonfire, brother of Steppenwolf’s drummer. But I digress…<\/p>\n

Must Know:\u00a0 <\/i><\/b>\u00a0The two things you need to know about motorcycle helmet laws are:\u00a0 1. Whether the law of the particular state in which you are riding requires you to wear a helmet. \u00a02. Whether your helmet meets applicable manufacturing standards.<\/p>\n

Below is a chart with state-by-state helmet requirements.\u00a0 Note, it does not matter where you live or where you register your bike.\u00a0 You must comply with each state’s helmet law when riding within their borders or risk the ticket.\u00a0 Just 20 states plus DC require all<\/i> riders to wear a helmet.\u00a0 The other 30 states require helmets for riders below a certain age.\u00a0 Clearly, 3\/5s of America’s bikers aren’t so willing to give up the feel of the wind in their hair!<\/p>\n

Remember, too, that not just any helmet passes muster.\u00a0 The safest and always-legal helmets comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218.\u00a0 Your helmet came with literature, a pamphlet or sticker, stating its DOT rating.\u00a0 Any helmet manufactured below standards – novelty helmets and such – and you are rolling the dice on getting a ticket for no-helmet and your safety.\u00a0 Double-check your helmet’s DOT rating .\u00a0 Call a reputable dealer if you have questions.\u00a0 Even worse than being ticketed for riding without a helmet would be to actually wear a helmet and get the ticket anyway!<\/p>\n

When In Doubt, Helmet Out.\u00a0 <\/i><\/b>The trickier legal questions about motorcycle helmet requirements are these:\u00a0 Will riding without a\u00a0 helmet in a particular state be counted against you in an accident, even when the other driver is at fault?\u00a0 The answer depends on jurisdiction.\u00a0 In South Carolina, foregoing your helmet for ages 21 and above is perfectly legal!\u00a0 Therefore it cannot be counted as negligence against a biker who is otherwise not at-fault in an accident.\u00a0 But other states differ.\u00a0 Unless you have consulted with a lawyer in each state you ride, best to break out that helmet.<\/p>\n

Also keep in mind that some states such as Florida, Kentucky, and Michigan, require special insurance<\/i><\/b> for bikers who choose to forego their helmet.\u00a0 This is true even when going helmet-less is legal.\u00a0 Not knowing the law won’t get you out of the ticket.\u00a0 But wearing the helmet will!<\/p>\n

A Word On Safety (I’m a personal injury lawyer; I can’t help myself!)<\/i><\/b>\u00a0 The fact is, studies show that helmets reduce injury in a crash. In 2008, helmets saved over 1,800 lives. \u00a0Another 800 could have been saved if the injured rider had been wearing a helmet.\u00a0 Granted, there are studies that indicate that the greater visibility and hearing enjoyed by non-helmeted riders makes it easier to avoid a crash.\u00a0 But the bulk of the research indicates it is best to wear a helmet.<\/p>\n

I know<\/i><\/b>.\u00a0 Beginning at age 12, I rode my Honda 65 up and down the Grand Strand beaches during the off-season.\u00a0 Nothing on my head but salty hair.\u00a0 I loved it!<\/i><\/b>\u00a0 But these days there are more cars getting more careless when it comes to us bikers.\u00a0 I wear a helmet.<\/p>\n

State<\/b><\/p>\n

Motorcycle Helmet Required For<\/b><\/p>\n

Alabama<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Alaska<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Arizona<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Arkansas<\/p>\n

20 and younger<\/p>\n

California<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Colorado<\/p>\n

17 and younger riders and passengers<\/p>\n

Connecticut<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Delaware<\/p>\n

18 and younger<\/p>\n

District of Columbia<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Florida<\/p>\n

20 and younger<\/p>\n

Georgia<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Hawaii<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Idaho<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Illinois<\/p>\n

No law<\/p>\n

Indiana<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Iowa<\/p>\n

No law<\/p>\n

Kansas<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Kentucky<\/p>\n

20 and younger<\/p>\n

Louisiana<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Maine<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Maryland<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Massachusetts<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Michigan<\/p>\n

20 and younger<\/p>\n

Minnesota<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Mississippi<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Missouri<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Montana<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Nebraska<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Nevada<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

New Hampshire<\/p>\n

No law<\/p>\n

New Jersey<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

New Mexico<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

New York<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

North Carolina<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

North Dakota<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Ohio<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Oklahoma<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Oregon<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania<\/p>\n

20 and younger<\/p>\n

Rhode Island<\/p>\n

20 and younger<\/p>\n

South Carolina<\/p>\n

20 and younger<\/p>\n

South Dakota<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Tennessee<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Texas<\/p>\n

20 and younger<\/p>\n

Utah<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Vermont<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Virginia<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Washington<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

West Virginia<\/p>\n

All riders<\/p>\n

Wisconsin<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

Wyoming<\/p>\n

17 and younger<\/p>\n

David C. Johnston, Esq.<\/a> , is a personal injury attorney with George Sink, PA Injury Lawyers.\u00a0 David has been riding since age 12 and currently enjoys his 1977 BMW R-100-S.\u00a0 Please feel free to call David with questions, 24\/7, at 843-225-3600.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you know the motorcycle helmet laws in your state? You must comply with each state’s helmet laws or risk getting a ticket. Contact David Johnston for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,31,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-auto-accidents","category-motorcycle-accidents","category-personal-injury","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSC Motorcycle Helmet Laws | George Sink<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you know the motorcycle helmet laws in your state? 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