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Motorcycle safety gear provides important protection in the event of an accident

Motorcycle Safety Gear and Why It MattersWithout the protection afforded by an enclosed vehicle, motorcyclists are at a high risk for injuries in the event of a traffic accident. The most common type of motorcycle accident injury is an injury to the legs and/or feet—30 percent of motorcycle accident victims suffer this type of injury according to the CDC. Head and neck injuries are nearly as common, with 22 percent of victims injuring these body parts. Injuries to the chest and abdomen were the next most frequent type of injury, followed by injuries to the arms and hands and, lastly, injuries to the hips and pelvis.

The good news is, there is motorcycle safety gear designed to protect just about all of these body parts:

Helmets: A quality motorcycle helmet is absolutely essential, since wearing a helmet reduces the risk of death by 37 percent and the risk of a head injury by 69 percent according to the CDC. Many American motorcyclists opt for a DOT-certified helmet, which is the minimum standard in the US. However, a helmet meeting the European ECE 22.05 standard is actually a better choice. The difference is that ECE 22.05 certified helmets are designed to provide protection for a major impact followed by multiple smaller impacts, which is what you might expect to happen when a motorcyclist gets thrown from their vehicle and bounces to a stop on the pavement. A DOT-certified helmet, on the other hand, is only designed for one major impact.

Gloves: In addition to protecting your hands from lacerations and abrasion injuries, gloves can help improve your grip, which may help improve your ability to handle the motorcycle and help prevent an accident. Look for full-fingered gloves that fit properly.

Body Armor: At a bare minimum, motorcyclists should wear abrasion-resistant fabrics such as leather, Cordura, and ballistic nylon that will prevent them from getting road rash in the event of an accident. However, for even more protection, consider gear with specially designed built-in pads to protect the elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, spine, rib cage, and kidneys.

Why You Need Motorcycle Safety Gear

Obviously, you need motorcycle safety gear for protection. But protection against injuries isn’t all it can provide. It may also provide protection against having your compensation for motorcycle accident injuries reduced.

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you can seek compensation for your injuries. But, if you were negligent in any way that substantially contributed to your injuries, you could be found partially liable for your injuries, in which case your compensation would be reduced accordingly. Failing to use required safety gear could be considered negligence.

For example, if you were not wearing a motorcycle helmet and you suffered a head injury, the at-fault party could very logically argue that your failure made your head injury worse than it should have been. You might be found 30 percent responsible for the injury, in which case you would only be able to recover 70 percent of your damages from the at-fault party.

Need Help with a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker will fight for you to receive full and fair compensation. To learn more, call us at 800-333-0000 for a free initial consultation.