What Happens if I Ride a Motorcycle Without a Helmet?

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strapping motorcycle helmet

It does not matter if you only take a short ride on your motorcycle to run a quick errand. Or, if you believe you are an experienced and skilled enough driver that can prevent anything from going wrong. The bottom line is that you must wear a helmet on a motorcycle at all times. In fact, it is Maryland law that you cannot operate or ride on a motorcycle unless you wear a helmet certified to meet the standards established by the State Department of Transportation. With this considered, read on to discover what happens if you ride a motorcycle without a helmet and how a seasoned St. Mary’s County motorcycle accident lawyer at The Dorsey Law Firm can help you better comprehend the consequences if you do not.

What happens if I ride a motorcycle without a helmet in the state of Maryland?

In the state of Maryland you may, at the very least, face a fine of up to $500 if you are pulled over on account of operating or riding on a motorcycle without a helmet. Your no-helmet ticket may then prompt your auto insurance rates to rise significantly.

However, this may be the least of your worries. This is because, in the unfortunate event of a motorcycle crash, your lack of helmet protection may increase your chances of suffering serious head injuries. Namely, you may be diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. Such a diagnosis may significantly alter the trajectory of your life. To name a few side effects, you may now have to suffer through paralysis of your facial muscles; debilitations to your thought processes; chronic seizures; and more.

What are my chances of filing a motorcycle accident claim if I did not wear a helmet?

You must be made aware of Maryland’s strict standards for who can and cannot file personal injury claims. That is, the state follows a contributory negligence system. This system holds that if the victim of an accident is even one percent at fault for the event, they cannot become the plaintiff of a legal claim.

With this in mind, you may be hesitant to bring forward a motorcycle accident claim if you were not wearing a helmet at the time of your collision. This is because it may be argued that not wearing a helmet contributed to your incurred bodily injuries. Well, you may rest easier knowing that Maryland law declares that you may still seek recovery in a legal claim, so long as your only fault in the accident was your failure to wear a helmet.

The time to act is now. So pick up the phone and call a competent St. Mary’s County auto accident lawyer from The Dorsey Law Firm at your earliest possible convenience. We look forward to hearing from you.