A DC motorcycle accident attorney like Cohen and Cohen, P.C. is passionate about protecting the rights of motorcycle riders. If you have suffered a personal injury as a result of a motorcycle accident, contact us to discuss your case and how we can best help you.
Almost any motorcycle accident attorney in DC can attest to the importance of wearing a helmet. But there may be other facts about motorcycle helmets you weren’t aware of that could improve your chances for avoiding a personal injury, if you’re ever involved in an accident.
Five Motorcycle Helmet Safety Tips
- State helmet requirements: Laws vary by state, but some states require that a helmet be worn when driving a motorcycle. In addition, many states also require that the helmet has a specified minimum amount of reflective material. A good DC motorcycle accident attorney can tell you if these laws apply in your personal injury case.
- Take proper care of your helmet: At some point, your helmet may be all that’s between your head and the pavement. A DC motorcycle accident attorney might suggest that your helmet is one of your most important pieces of gear. If you treat it well, it stands a better chance of protecting you when it counts. To help prevent the helmet’s materials from degrading or breaking down faster than they should, never store it anywhere that it might be exposed to harmful fumes or chemicals. This includes the top of your bike’s gas tank. Also avoid extreme hot or cold temperatures.
- Replace your helmet immediately if any of the following are true:
- You wore it while involved in an accident. It may look fine but if it absorbed any impact, internal parts may be compromised.
- It has any cracks or dents at all of any size. Again, it may not be at a hundred percent, and anything less than that may not fully protect you the next time you need it.
- If the helmet is more than five years old. Not only may the internal padding have degraded over time, the chin strap or visor may be brittle and ready to break. You can also take advantage of technological improvements in motorcycle helmets when you replace.
- Make sure your helmet fits: An improperly fitting helmet may not be much better than no helmet at all in the event of a collision; so if it doesn’t fit, replace it. For a good fit, go by these general guidelines:
- If you have a full-face helmet, the face shield or helmet shouldn’t touch your chin or nose when you push on the chin piece.
- Between the brow pads and your brows, there shouldn’t be a space.
- The cheek pads should barely touch your cheeks and not press hard against them.
- Verify your helmet meets necessary standards: If you’re riding your bike on the highway, the law requires your motorcycle helmet to meet DOT standards. If your helmet doesn’t have a DOT sticker, then it’s probably not DOT-certified and may be lacking in protective stamina.
Almost any motorcycle accident attorney DC riders choose to represent them in personal injury cases will suggest that you get the best helmet you can afford because your life might depend on it.
Contact Us Today
Cohen and Cohen, P.C. is dedicated to fighting for the rights of motorcycle riders who have been injured in a collision. If you’ve been injured in an accident–with our without a helmet–it may be in your best interest to contact an experienced DC motorcycle accident attorney from our team today.