The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates over the last 15 years, more than 25,000 lives have been saved by wearing motorcycle helmets. At Wind Law, LLC our Richmondmotorcycle accident attorney believes the Commonwealth of Virginia has helped contribute to some of the lives saved, as our state has had a universal helmet law since 1970.
Our universal helmet law requires all motorcycle drivers and passengers to wear helmets that must meet or exceed the specifications of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute, or the U.S. Department of Transportation and must meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #218. In addition, if a motorcycle does not have a windshield, the rider must wear eye protection such as goggles, safety glasses, or a face shield.
What Happens If Virginia Riders Do Not Wear Motorcycle Helmets?
While our motorcycle accident lawyer in Virginia does not handle criminal cases, we know it is a Class 4 misdemeanor not to wear a motorcycle helmet, meaning the rider could be fined up to $250.
The National Safety Council Injury Facts reported that motorcycle helmets are 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists and 41% effective for motorcycle passengers.
If you were not wearing a helmet at the time of a collision, the chances of suffering catastrophic injuries increase dramatically. While the negligent driver’s insurance company cannot use the rider’s not wearing the helmet as an “out” for paying for their damages, it could be used to argue that the rider assumed the risk. This could result in damages being reduced or even eliminated entirely.
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I was injured in a supermarket due to the negligence of one of the employees. I was so fortunate to work with Attorney Ryan Wind to receive a worthy settlement...Read More
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Mr. Wind handled our daughters case and did a fantastic job from start to finish. He went above and beyond our expectations every step of the way. There wasn’t a...Read More
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Mr. Wind was thoughtful in his approach to my case and gave sound legal counsel. As a thirty-three year veteran in the criminal justice system, I have had the opportunity...Read More
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I have worked with Ryan Wind several times & have never been disappointed! Every single time Ryan has kept me up to date with my case & very informative! My...Read More
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When our eighteen-month old daughter experience a traumatic injury at her daycare, we called Ryan Wind for help. Throughout the process, he worked diligently on behalf of our daughter. Communication...Read More
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Ryan did a great job. I felt that he had me and my family’s best interest. If you are ever in an accident Ryan should be your first call....Read More
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Ryan Wind made this very complex process manageable and streamlined. We were well informed of the status of our case and the next steps for the short term and the...Read More
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Working with Ryan Wind has been nothing short of amazing. He has been on my side from day one and has kept me informed throughout the entire process. I highly...Read More
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