A proposed federal law mandating helmet use for motorcyclists in all 50 states will not get a committee hearing, and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is happy about it. The senator removed the provision from the bill at the last minute.
What upset the AMA was how the bill went about mandating helmet use across the nation. It indirectly forced states to pass mandatory helmet laws if the states wanted to receive federal funding for motorcycle safety. A critic of the measure commented that federal efforts should focus on preventing motorcycle crashes instead of dictating what gear motorcycle riders should wear. Critics of the measure also pointed out the way it stripped states of their rights regarding mandatory helmet laws.
Louisiana has a mandatory helmet law for all motorcyclists. However, the statistics point out that even with a helmet, motorcycle crashes are just as fatal. A collision with a vehicle at high speeds offers little protection for the rest of the rider’s body. It is not the initial impact with the car that causes severe injuries, but the secondary impact after ejection from the motorcycle is where most fatal injuries occur.
Have you suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident in Louisiana?
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans accident attorneys