Automobiles have passenger compartments to protect their occupants from getting ejected or crushed during car accidents. By contrast, motorcycles leave riders exposed during motorcycle accidents. As a result, motorcycle operators and passengers are 22 times more likely to die in a crash than automobile occupants.
Louisiana is among the few states that require all riders to wear motorcycle helmets. This essential piece of safety equipment reduces your risk of head injury by up to 69%. After a crash in Lafayette, LA, your compliance with Louisiana helmet laws could save your life, although you may still suffer non-fatal injuries.
Kenny Habetz Injury Law can help you fight for compensation. If you need assistance, contact us today at (337) 399-9000 to schedule a free case review.
How Kenny Habetz Injury Law Can Help You After a Motorcycle Accident in Lafayette, LA
Since 2010, Kenny Habetz Injury Law has assisted accident victims and other injured people in Lafayette, Louisiana, in fighting insurance companies and at-fault parties for financial compensation. Our Lafayette motorcycle accident lawyer has recovered millions of dollars in life-changing settlements and damage awards for the firm’s clients.
We can provide the following services to you after an accident caused by someone else’s actions:
- Discussing your injuries and analyzing your legal options
- Gathering evidence necessary to prove your case
- Fighting insurers for a fair settlement
- Filing a lawsuit if the opposing side refuses to settle
A motorcycle accident injury can require expensive medical treatment and a lengthy recovery. Contact our Lafayette personal injury lawyer for a free consultation to discuss your crash and how we can help you fight for compensation for your injuries.
How Many Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Lafayette?
The Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS) at Louisiana State University provides detailed traffic crash statistics for the state. According to its Motorcyclist Fatalities and Suspected Injuries report under the “Traffic Overview” tab, Louisiana had 1,612 motorcycle accidents in 2023.
These crashes caused:
- 97 deaths
- 1,193 non-fatal injuries
You can also use the CARTS system to look at crashes on a parish level. If you filter to only show motorcycle accidents in Lafayette Parish, CARTS shows 137 total motorcycle collisions that produced two deaths and 100 non-fatal injuries. From these numbers, you can calculate that over 74% of motorcycle accidents resulted in injury or death.
Helmet Laws in Lafayette, Louisiana
Helmet laws are effective in several ways. First, they increase helmet use. According to CARTS, 91.5% of riders in Lafayette and 89.4% of riders across the state wore helmets when they crashed.
Second, and more importantly, helmets prevent serious injuries and death. One study found that as many as 38% of helmetless crash victims suffered a head injury. By contrast, only about 24% of helmeted crash victims suffered a head injury.
These findings are significant. The impact that produces a head injury can jar the brain so severely that the tissues get damaged. A brain injury can cause symptoms that make it impossible for the victim to earn a living or even meet their daily needs. Brain injuries can even cause coma or death.
Louisiana’s helmet law is geared toward preventing these injuries. Under Louisiana law, all riders, including operators and passengers, must wear a helmet with a chin strap while riding. The helmet must be approved by the Louisiana Secretary of Public Safety and Corrections, which, in turn, relies on the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve safety helmets.
Thus, only motorcycle helmets meeting USDOT approval comply with Louisiana law. Novelty helmets without the USDOT sticker or marking will not protect a rider or adhere to the state’s laws.
The state’s law does not provide any medical exceptions for helmet use. The only exception in the statute permits local law enforcement agencies to allow riders in parades or other exhibitions to ride without a helmet.
The Consequences of Riding Without a Motorcycle Helmet
Riding without a helmet exposes riders to a traffic citation and a $50 fine. It also increases the rider’s risk of head injury or death in a collision.
A helmetless rider also jeopardizes their right to pursue full compensation for crash injuries. Louisiana’s comparative negligence statute requires the court to allocate fault between all the parties that contributed to a victim’s injuries. Even if the other driver caused the accident, a court could find that the motorcyclist contributed to their injuries by riding without a helmet.
For example, suppose that a rider suffered head and brain injuries in a motorcycle crash. The at-fault driver’s insurer will argue that the rider knew or should have known the risks of riding without a helmet. If the court agrees, it could assign a share of the blame for the injuries to the rider and reduce the at-fault driver’s share of liability.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With Our Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Attorney
A head injury after a motorcycle accident can lead to permanent brain damage, causing physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Contact Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free consultation if a motorcycle accident injures you or your loved one.
