Arizona’s Motorcycle Helmet Laws and You

Motorcycle helmets save over 1,500 lives a year, yet could save hundreds more if every motorcyclist chose to wear a helmet. Every state has its own motorcycle helmet laws, so if you’re a biker in Arizona, take the time to familiarize yourself with your local policies and standards for protective equipment.

Helmet and Protective Gear Requirements

Arizona’s current motorcycle safety laws mandate helmet usage for motorcycle operators and passengers younger than 18 years old. However, even if it isn’t a legal requirement, wearing a motorcycle helmet is extremely important. Motorcycle crashes are more lethal than any other traffic accident, as motorcycles have almost none of the modern safeties that other automobiles provide (such as airbags, seatbelts, a heavy, protective, crash-resistant frame surrounding passengers, etc.). 

Wearing a helmet is proven to be the most important factor in minimizing your odds of death in a motorcycle accident. Road rash, biker’s arm, cuts and bruises, and other wounds pale in comparison to traumatic head injuries and brain damage when considering the risk of lethality and the likelihood for survivors to suffer permanent health conditions.

Notably, although helmets aren’t necessary for every motorcyclist, eye protection of some kind is. This can take the form of goggles, visors, glasses, face shields, or a windshield on the motorcycle itself, as long as it’s sufficient to maintain visibility in windy and poor weather conditions. 

Recovering From Arizona Motorcycle Accidents

Whether or not you have a helmet on, motorcycle accidents are likely to cause serious injuries that can have life-altering ramifications. Even if you follow best practices for riding, such as assuming that nobody sees you, many motorists fail to notice motorcyclists, or worse still, choose to drive recklessly or impolitely around bikers out of varying forms of personal prejudice. Similarly, insurance companies often discriminate against riders, assuming that they’re thrill-seeking, reckless individuals who are likely responsible for any accident they get into. In the face of such a disagreeable opposition, it can seem overwhelming or even impossible to reach a fair settlement that takes all of your damages and suffering into account.

In order to safeguard your compensation, it’s important for you to wear a helmet, even if Arizona doesn’t require it. If you fail to do so, then suffer a head injury as a result of that decision, you’ll be considered partially liable for your injury under Arizona’s comparative fault system, meaning that you won’t receive full compensation for any medical bills or other damages you have. Additionally, avoid apologizing at the scene of the collision, as this could be considered an admission of partial fault, and consult an attorney before agreeing to anything with an insurance company.

As a motorcyclist, the odds are stacked against you, but an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Arizona can level the playing field. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident, contact us at (623) 877-3600 to schedule a free consultation with a capable lawyer who can answer any questions you have about local ordinances, policy, and your likelihood of securing a fair settlement for your damages. ELG can take the burden of a motorcycle accident case off of your shoulders, giving you the peace of mind you deserve.