Florida Motorcycle Helmet Law
The "No Helmet" Law
On July 1st, 2000 the State of Florida repealed legislation that had previously required all motorcyclists throughout the state to wear safety helmets when riding on public roadways. Under Florida's new helmet law, adult motorcyclists and moped riders are exempted from wearing helmets if they have medical insurance of at least $10,000 in the event of a motorcycle accident.
Regardless of whether you were wearing a helmet in violation or accordance with Florida's helmet laws, it is important that you consider consulting an attorney after a motorcycle accident of any kind. At Distasio Law Firm, we understand that you have just been through a traumatic experience. You may have questions about your ability to recover financial compensation for your injuries, particularly if you may have been riding a motorcycle in violation of the state's helmet laws. In most cases, we are still able to assist our clients in recovering a settlement or jury award, whether or not our client was wearing a helmet. Your initial consultation with an Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm is free, and we will take the time to talk to you about your unique case and what can be done to assist you.
Deciding Whether to Wear a Helmet
Although wearing a safety helmet is no longer a legal requirement for Florida motorcyclists over the age of 21, there are benefits to wearing a helmet anyway. Motorcyclists are at a great risk of injury in the event of an auto accident of any kind, particularly because they are relatively unprotected in a collision with a motor vehicle that may weigh in excess of 2,000 pounds. As such, head injury is one of the most common types of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. The risk of serious brain injury or head trauma is much greater if a rider is not wearing a helmet.
However, the decision to wear a helmet is truly up to you. For more information about Florida's no helmet law and what to do if you've been involved in an accident, contact an Orlando motorcycle accident attorney at our firm today.