If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, and believe that a defective part caused the accident, you may be able to seek damages from the manufacturer. Contact an attorney who has experience with motorcycle accident cases and defective products litigation to discuss your case.
Learn More About Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are especially dangerous because there is nothing between the rider and the open road. The resulting injures can be catastrophic and require victims to endure years of costly medical treatment. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by another person's negligence, an experienced attorney can help you pursue financial compensation for the losses you have suffered.
Below, we have provided some general information about motorcycle accident injuries that we hope you will find helpful. For more information on your specific case, please contact us today online or by telephone at 702-240-7979 to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
For more information about how we can help you, please visit our personal injury page.
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With over 50 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys are prepared to help you achieve your most important legal objectives. We have an in-depth understanding of personal injury law and how it pertains to motorcycle accident injury cases. We will do everything in our power to help you get the relief you need and deserve.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, we can help you pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other hardships. Please contact us today online or by telephone at 702-240-7979 to speak with a skilled Las Vegas, Nevada, personal injury lawyer.
Helmet Laws
Many states have mandatory helmet laws that require motorcycle drivers and passengers to wear helmets while operating or riding on a motorcycle. These laws generally specify the type of helmets that have been approved for use by a state agency. If you have questions about whether Nevada has a helmet law or whether your failure to obey that law will affect your ability to recover damages in a motorcycle accident case, contact Christiansen Law Offices in Las Vegas to schedule a consultation with an attorney to discuss your particular situation..
Wearing a helmet is an effective way to protect yourself in the event of a motorcycle accident. If a motorcyclist is hit and falls off the bike, a head injury often occurs. A helmet may save the life of a motorcycle driver or passenger by reducing the severity of head injuries. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as of June 2011, 20 states and the District of Columbia had laws that required all motorcyclists to wear helmets; 27 states had laws requiring only some motorcyclists to wear helmets; and three states had no motorcycle helmet use law.
How the Failure to Wear a Helmet Can Affect Your Case
In a personal injury action brought by an injured motorcyclist, the defendant may argue that the injured party's own negligence was actually the cause of his or her injuries. Generally, to establish that the injured party was negligent the defendant must prove that the injured party had a duty of some kind to operate his or her motorcycle in a safe and reasonable manner; that the injured party breached this duty in some way; and that the breach of duty was a proximate cause of the accident. If the defendant can prove all these elements and establish that the injured party was negligent, the injured party's recovery may be barred or reduced because of his or her contributory negligence.
In states that have enacted mandatory helmet laws, the statutes may provide only for criminal penalties. In addition, some of these statutes are silent as to the effect that a violation of the law has on the determination of whether a motorcyclist was negligent. In these states, it is not necessarily clear what the effect of a motorcyclist's failure to wear a helmet will have on the determination of his or her negligence.
As mentioned above, many states do not have laws that require motorcyclists to wear helmets. Some courts within these states have found the fact that an injured rider was not wearing a helmet is inadmissible in a personal injury suit.
Legal Challenges to Helmet Laws
Generally, mandatory helmet laws require that drivers and passengers of motorcycles wear a protective helmet or other headgear that has been approved by a state agency. Constitutional challenges to helmet laws in a number of states have had mixed results. Some courts have upheld these laws, finding that they are a legitimate use of the state's police power to promote the general health, safety and welfare of citizens. There is also limited authority, which provides that helmet laws are unconstitutional because they do not bear a substantial relationship to protecting the general public. Courts have held that helmet laws are not discriminatory against a particular class of people and do not violate the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause because a helmet requirement is a reasonable means to protect people on highways from the greater hazards caused by the increased risk to motorcyclists. Other courts have upheld helmet laws against arguments that they are unconstitutional burdens on interstate commerce, finding that any burden was incidental.
Individuals wishing to challenge the constitutionality of a mandatory helmet law bear the burden of proving that the law is unconstitutional. This can be a difficult task, particularly because there is a strong presumption of validity of statutes that govern safety issues.
Talk to a Lawyer
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident and you were not wearing a helmet, you may have questions about whether this will affect your chances to recover damages for your injuries from the person who hit you. Contact Christiansen Law Offices in Las Vegas, Nevada, to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney who can evaluate your situation..
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