How Much Does a Helmet Improve the Chances of Survival in a Motorcycle Crash?
The statistics are in, and the degree to which a helmet can improve your chances of survival in a motorcycle accident is so significant that it leaves little room for doubt. If you ride, you are always safer when you wear a helmet, which should always be your priority. If another driver’s negligence leaves you injured in a motorcycle accident – regardless of whether or not you were wearing a helmet – you can seek compensation for the covered damages you suffer, and an experienced Charleston, motorcycle accident lawyer can help.
The Statistics
As helmet usage increases, motorcycle-related injuries and deaths decrease, which highlights the importance of wearing a helmet every time you ride. In this country, motorcycles make up only 3 percent of the registered vehicles on our roads, and they travel only .6 percent of the total vehicle miles traveled, but in a recent year, they accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities and for 3 percent of all traffic-related injuries.
The numbers only become more dire from here. In fact, that same year, those riding motorcycles were 29 times more likely to die in an accident than the occupants of passenger cars were – per vehicle mile traveled. And these numbers are on the rise – from 1999 to 2019, the average number of motorcycle accident fatalities doubled.
It’s estimated that if everyone who rides a motorcycle wore a helmet every time, it would save $8.9 billion in overall costs. All these sobering motorcycle accident statistics were shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – with information culled from the NHTSA.
The Law in South Carolina
It’s clear that wearing a helmet can make a serious difference in your health outcome if you are involved in a motorcycle accident, and the State of South Carolina requires anyone who is under the age of 21 to do so. For those who are 21 and over, however, you are not obligated to wear a helmet when you ride, which means that you can file a motorcycle accident claim against the at-fault driver for the losses you experience as a result of their negligence.
Shared Fault
It’s important to note that South Carolina employs what is called comparative negligence when it comes to compensating victims of motorcycle accidents. This means that, as long as the other driver is assigned at least 51 percent of fault in the matter, you can pursue the percentage of your losses that they are responsible for in your claim.
If you weren’t wearing a helmet and you suffered a head injury in a motorcycle accident, for example, your compensation may be reduced by the percentage of fault that is assigned to you. The fact that you weren’t wearing a helmet, however, won’t necessarily negate your right to seek compensation.
An Experienced Charleston Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help
The dedicated Charleston motorcycle accident lawyers at Parham Smith & Archenhold have a wealth of impressive experience helping clients like you recover compensation for their full range of losses, and we’re on your side. Learn more by contacting us online or calling 864-432-1796 today.