Another Article that Highlights How Motorcycle Helmets Save Lives

A video of an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper in New Jasper running into a couple on a motorcycle has gone viral.

In the incident that took place August 17, 2013, on U.S. Route 35, the officer appears not to have seen the couple until moments before impact. He doesn’t seem to swerve, brake or take any other action to avoid the crash. The dashboard camera mounted on the law enforcement officer’s vehicle filmed the whole traumatic episode.

Amy and Corey Waldman were both badly injured in the motorcycle wreck. In fact, Corey suffered a concussion. However, the couple has publicly credited the fact that they were wearing helmets with saving their lives. In all likelihood, their helmet use has also spared them severe brain injuries.

Ohio law only requires helmet use for riders who are under 18 years old or who have their licenses for less than one year. Although not mandated by statute, this viral police video says it all. A 2012 Trooper of the Year rear-ended a bike. And only by donning their helmets are both partners still alive to tell their stories.

Ohio Department of Public Safety statistics further highlight that helmets save lives. Of the 166 riders killed in motorcycle traffic accidents, 111 were not wearing helmets. An additional 1,787 of the 3,291 injured bikers were not wearing helmets at the time of their crashes.

Of course, remaining alive and healthy is your number one priority. But, there is also an important legal aspect to helmet use. Ohio is a comparative negligence state. This means that you must be less than 50 percent at fault to recover damages. Your damages award is deducted by the percentage of your culpability.

By wearing a helmet, you can make the valid argument that you did all you could to avoid brain injuries — a crucial point in personal injury litigation.