In 1992, Maryland enacted a law that required motorcyclists and their passengers to wear helmets. The purpose of the law was to help prevent traumatic brain injuries and other serious injuries and deaths to motorcycle riders.
Now, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health has concluded that Maryland’s helmet laws have gone a long way toward protecting Maryland motorcyclists from the most serious injuries.
The study examined Maryland accident statistics from the three years immediately before and immediately after the helmet law went into effect. Researchers discovered that, while the number of motorcyclists on Maryland’s roads stayed the same, the number of fatal accidents dropped from 130 deaths before the law took effect to 82 deaths in the three years after the law took effect.
Although motorcycle riders make up fewer than 2 percent of travelers on U.S. roads, they are 14 times more likely to be killed in a traffic crash. The greater exposure of a motorcyclist’s body to the road, as well as the increased chances that a motorist will not see a motorcycle, increases the risk of a motorcycle accident in Maryland.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Maryland motorcycle accident, the assistance of a skilled Maryland motorcycle accident attorney can help ensure that rightful compensation is obtained. Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” has both the legal resources and experience to present a strong case on your behalf. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call Steven H. Heisler today at 877-228-4878.
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