With or Without a Helmet
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Riding a motorcycle can be a great experience but it also comes with great risks. In New York State, there are laws that protect riders from devastating injuries and even death. It’s no secret that helmet laws can save your life but most states still don’t require riders to put one on their heads.
In some cities, more than 3,000 riders can be admitted to area hospitals every year. Most of them will be diagnosed with serious head injuries and of those hospitalized riders, 80 percent will not survive.
A Buffalo motorcycle accident lawyer at Cellino & Barnes says it’s not worth taking the risk.
“Motorcyclists are still some of the most vulnerable people using the roads, even when they’re required by law to wear a helmet in Buffalo,” motorcycle accident attorney Steve Barnes said. “The risks skyrocket when bikers take road trips to surrounding states that don’t have helmet laws.”
Many riders still choose to wear a helmet in other states but some have the option of storing it away. In fact, 31 states have little or no helmet requirements and the statistics show that biking in those states can be much more dangerous.
At King George’s Medical University, doctors treat more than 16,000 motorists each year after crashes involving both cars and motorcycles. Of those patients, nearly 11,000 suffered a serious head injury. The statistics are an important look into road safety as a whole – and the importance of wearing a helmet when riding on two wheels.
A recent study conducted by researchers at KGMU found that only 15 percent of riders will wear a helmet when they aren’t required to but nearly half of all patients with head injuries (around 4,500) were taken to the emergency room after a motorcycle crash.
“Even when riders are wearing a helmet, there’s a high risk of head injuries,” Barnes said. “That’s why we’re urging everyone to slow down and pay attention this summer; because there are lives at stake.”
Motorcyclists who wear helmets have a much greater chance of survival but the Buffalo motorcycle accident lawyers at Cellino & Barnes hope their message gets through to all motorists: attentive drivers and riders can prevent a potentially dangerous crash.
As one of Western New York’s most recognizable law firms, Cellino & Barnes is proud to call Buffalo home and it’s our goal to make our roads and neighborhoods a safer place for everyone.
Our Buffalo motorcycle accident attorneys have helped many other motorcyclists obtain the maximum compensation for their injuries. If you’ve been injured on a bike, contact us today for a free consultation.
