Motorcycle Injuries - Is It all about the “Helmet”?

Until the 1970's, there were no state-enforced helmet laws for riders of motorcycles. In fact, there was some controversy about the effectiveness of helmets and it took a long time to get helmet laws on the books. There are still some places in the U.S. that do not have or enforce helmet laws.

In 1975, a leading South African neurosurgeon who is the Chief of Neurosurgery at a leading Johannesburg hospital, said he preferred motorcycle riders NOT to wear a helmet. "If you hit your head on a rock, I can fix your head injury - but if you wear a helmet and you hit your head on a rock, you break your neck and I can't do anything for you,” the doctor commented.

Enter The USC Head Injury Safety Laboratory - USC Professor changes our views on motorcycle helmet safety

It took an American professor of Safety Science at the University of Southern California (USC) to change the thinking about this.

Professor Hugh Harrison "Harry" Hurt Jr. and his team at the Safety Laboratory at USC studied hundreds of motorcycle accidents, interviewed hundreds of riders and filmed many sections of highway where riders were captured on film having accidents. Their findings were published in 1981 in a report known as the "Hurt Report" by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Professor Hurt's findings changed the way we think about motorcycle safety. Although helmet legislation is not mandated in every state most motorcycle riders today wear helmets even where it is not enforced. In case you might think that Professor Hurt was biased against motorcycles or motorcycle riders you’d be wrong, - he owned dozens of bikes including a Harley, two Triumphs and a Norton. His motorcycle safety study is considered the most authoritative of the 20th century.

"Bigger Bikes, Older Riders, and Alcohol Use"

In 2006, Professor Hurt was asked what he considered the biggest issues involved in motorcycle safety today and he said, "bigger bikes, older riders, and alcohol." Today, motorcycle fatalities make up 11% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S.. Those injured in motorcycle accidents usually receive traumatic injuries and it usually takes far longer to recover from a motorcycle accident than from a car accident.

The Rider Is Injured In Most Motorcycle Accidents

Riding a motorcycle, no matter what your experience level, can be very dangerous: 66% of accidents involving a motorcycle and a car were the fault of the driver of the car; usually ignoring the motorcycle's right of way. The 1981 Hurt Report found that the rider is injured in over 95 percent of motorcycle accidents, and 34% of those are injuries "more than minor".

Non-Recourse Funding is always a great option for Motorcycle Accident Cases

To pay for these medical bills and protracted legal proceedings, plaintiffs and their attorneys can receive non-recourse litigation funding from Nationwide Litigation Funding. Victims of motorcycle accidents and their families can finally reach that satisfactory outcome with cash in hand rather than being over-extended financially.

Non-recourse funding has different requirements for a person applying for a lawsuit settlement loan would have to qualify for; there are no monthly payments and the money does not need to be repaid if the case goes against you.

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