Due to the increase in motorcycle-related injuries and deaths since the late 1990s, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now pushing for laws that require riders to wear helmets in all fifty U.S. states, reports The Concord Monitor.
Although the number of other transportation accidents has gone down in the last decade, the number of accidents involving motorcycles has gone up, according to the NTSB. The number of transportation accidents overall has also gone up, as the increase in motorcycle accidents more than made up for the decrease in train, plane, and boat crashes.
According to the NTSB, the most common cause of death in a motorcycle accident is head injury. The NTSB estimates that thousands of lives could be saved if all fifty states required motorcycle riders to wear helmets. Compared to other countries, transportation fatality rate in the U.S. is quite high, in part because motorcycle riders may choose in most states whether or not to wear helmets. Currently, only 20 states in the U.S. require all riders to wear helmets. Several other states only require helmets for certain riders or in certain situations. New Hampshire, along with Iowa and Illinois, does not have a motorcycle helmet requirement.
Wearing a motorcycle helmet is a smart move for all motorcyclists. Unfortunately however, a helmet may not prevent every injury if a careless or negligent driver collides with your bike. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in New Hampshire, you have certain legal rights. The experienced New Hampshire motorcycle accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help you understand your rights and options, and we will fight hard to win you the compensation you deserve. Call Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today at (603) 614-5055 for a free and confidential consultation.