Pennsylvania motorcycle accident injuries and deaths soared after repeal of helmet law
New research demonstrates the importance of helmet laws in reducing the risk of injury and death in a motorcycle accident. In 2003, the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Helmet law was repealed, allowing motorcyclists to ride with no protective headgear. However, a study published in the current issue of the American Journal of Public Health documents the immediate increase in Pennsylvania motorcycle injuries following the repeal.
>>INFORMATION: Accident Injuries
Researchers compared data for Pennsylvania motorcycle accidents during the two years before the helmet law was repealed (2001-2002) against data from the two years after (2004-2005). After riders were no longer required by law to wear a motorcycle helmet, researchers found that the number who wore helmets fell from 82% in 2001-2002 to 58% in 2004-2005. Although the rate of motorcycle crashes per 10,000 registered vehicles remained the same, the percentage of motorcycle crashes resulting in death or hospitalization increased substantially, for both head injury and other injuries.
Pennsylvania data for motorcycle head injury deaths showed an increase of 66% and head injury hospitalizations increased by 78% in 2004-2005 when compared with statistics from 2001-2002. For motorcycle injuries to parts of the body other than the head, researchers still found an increase of 25% for deaths and an increase of 28% for hospitalizations.
Acute-care hospital charges associated with motorcycle-related head injuries have more than doubled in Pennsylvania since the helmet law was repealed in 2003. The total costs soared from $53.5 million in 2001 and 2002 to $124.2 million for the years 2004 and 2005.
“Helmet law repeals jeopardize motorcycle riders,” researchers concluded. “Until repeals are reversed, states need voluntary strategies to increase helmet use.”
In 1975, the federal government stopped requiring states to impose helmet laws to receive federal highway money. Currently only 20 states and Washington D.C. require motorcyclists to wear helmets, despite the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates that the use of helmets saved the lives of nearly 700 motorcyclists in 2002, and reduced the risk of fatality by 29%.
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS
The accident lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. handle personal injury cases throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania.
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