When you take to the road on your motorcycle, whether you use it as a gas-efficient way to get to your destination or as a fun hobby, ensuring that you follow local laws and regulations is essential. Allentown motorcycle helmet laws govern when you must wear a helmet, who has to wear a helmet, and the standards that helmet must meet. If you suffer injuries in an accident, helmet use may impact the compensation you can recover. Our motorcycle accident attorneys could help you understand your options after a collision.
Motorcycle helmet laws require all riders in Allentown under the age of 21 to wear a helmet. Once they are 21 or older and have either had their motorcycle license for at least two years or completed an approved PennDot or Motorcycle Foundation course, motorcycle riders can choose whether they want to wear a helmet.
In Pennsylvania, passengers under 21 should also wear a motorcycle helmet. However, if the passenger is over 21 and the driver is exempt from motorcycle helmet requirements, passengers may also choose whether they want to wear a motorcycle helmet.
While riders in Pennsylvania do not necessarily have to wear a helmet if they are over 21 and have met other mandatory qualifications, they do have to wear some type of eye protection. Shatterproof eye protection can reduce the risk of eye injuries in an accident, but is not required.
In order to meet Allentown motorcycle helmet laws, helmets must meet minimum DOT standards. These helmets will bear a DOT sticker on the exterior.
Helmets should also have a manufacturer’s label with the model, size, and manufacturing date of the helmets. Some helmet quality can degrade over time, especially with significant use, so riders should take care to replace their helmets when necessary. A helmet should also be replaced after an accident.
While motorcycle helmet use in Allentown is not required by state law, it can significantly reduce the risk of injury. Wearing a helmet drops the odds of traumatic brain injury, facial injuries, and neck injuries in the event of a motorcycle accident.
Pennsylvania uses a no-fault insurance system, which means that after an injury on a motorcycle, most riders will turn first to their personal injury protection insurance for coverage for the damages they sustained. However, many motorcycle accident injuries—including traumatic brain injury or neck injury—can lead to high medical costs that exceed the protection offered by that coverage.
The insurance company that covers the liable party may attempt to argue that failure to wear a helmet leaves the injured rider partially liable for the damages sustained in the accident, particularly if they include head, neck, or facial injuries. As a result, the injured person may receive less compensation than if they were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
Motorcycle accidents often result in severe damages and may mean a difficult struggle with the insurance company to recover compensation. Whether you need to know how Allentown motorcycle helmet laws impact your claim or you have questions about the compensation you deserve, including how to lay out your medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering, a lawyer can help. Reach out to Soloff & Zervanos today for your free case review.
