The requirements for wearing a helmet while operating or riding upon a motorcycle vary from state to state. Of the fifty states, there are only four that do not have any helmet laws in place. Twenty states have full helmet laws for all riders and passengers including Alabama. Even among states that do have laws in place there can be significant differences in the requirements.
As a motorcycle rider or passenger in Alabama you are responsible for knowing and complying with the requirements of Alabama law. For more information about how city and state statutes might affect your motorcycle accident claim and how our Birmingham attorneys can help, please call 256-547-4988 to arrange a free consultation with Shelnutt & Varner today.
Alabama Helmet Requirements
Alabama has strict requirements on the specifications of helmets for wear by riders and passengers. In Alabama it is illegal for anyone to sell a helmet that does not meet the design specifications established by Alabama law and the Alabama Director of Public Safety. Emphasizing the importance of wearing a helmet, Alabama law also makes it illegal for a parent or guardian to allow a juvenile to operate or ride upon a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.
In addition to the requirements for wearing a helmet there are also stringent requirements for helmet design to ensure that helmets offer maximum protection for riders and passengers. Those requirements address helmet construction including the design, shell construction and material, cradle material and construction, padding, chin strap and visor.
More Than Just a Law
Many riders think that wearing a helmet should be a matter of choice; you may be one of them. You may or may not agree that it’s Alabama’s place to tell you that you have to wear a helmet. The law is based in large part on the data available on motorcycle crashes. Traumatic brain injury is a potentially life changing outcome of a motorcycle accident and the incidence of these types of injuries is significantly reduced by the wearing of protective head gear.
When you gear up and head out for a day of recreational riding the possibility of not arriving home in the same condition that you left may be the last thing on your mind, but it happens. There are many different types of conditions that you encounter on the road and many different types of hazards.
If you or a loved one has been injured while riding you need the help of someone who knows helmet laws, personal injury and the rights of those who have been injured. Please contact Shelnutt & Varner by phone at 256-547-4988 or online today to schedule your free consultation. We serve clients throughout Alabama.