According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), mandatory helmet use by children ages 4 to 15 would prevent between 39,000 and 45,000 head injuries annually in the U.S. Considering the fact that nearly 400,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries each year, legally mandated helmet use has remained a heavily debated issue among the 29 states that have yet to impose such legislation. Even the 21 states that do maintain bicycle helmet laws only place restrictions on bicyclists under a certain age. For example, Alabama law requires bicyclists who are 16 and younger to wear a helmet, while states like Louisiana and Pennsylvania have capped the maximum age at 12.
As for the rest, the following laws have been put into effect regarding bicycle helmet use:
- Alabama: 16 & under
- California: 18 & under
- Connecticut: 16 & under
- Delaware: 18 & under
- Florida: 16 & under
- Georgia: 16 & under
- Hawaii: 16 & under
- Louisiana: 12 & under
- Maine: 16 & under
- Maryland: 16 & under
- Massachusetts: 17 & under
- New Hampshire: 16 & under
- New Jersey: 17 & under
- New Mexico: 18 & under
- New York: 14 & under
- North Carolina: 16 & under
- Oregon: 16 & under
- Pennsylvania: 12 & under
- Rhode Island: 16 & under
- Tennessee: 16 & under
- West Virginia: 15 & under
Research has shown that “bicycle helmets are 85-88% effective in mitigating head and brain injuries, making the use of helmets the single most effective way to reduce head injuries and fatalities.” For this reason, you should not hesitate to take this precaution every time you jump on the back of a bike—regardless of whether or not it is required by law. In doing so, you can greatly reduce your risk of injury. If you or someone you love has already been involved in a bicycle accident, however, you should not hesitate to discuss your case with a Montgomery personal injury attorney at Morris, Andrews, Talmadge & Driggers, LLC. When you call us toll-free at (844) 654-6228 or locally at (334) 316-0930, your initial consultation is free.
