States with Helmet Laws Have Fewer Motorcycle Deaths

Some motorcycle riders in Kansas City, MO, believe that motorcycle helmets should be worn at all times when riding, while others wholeheartedly believe that helmets should be one’s own choice or option.

While we respect the opinion of everyone, research shows that states with helmet laws have fewer motorcycle deaths when compared to states without helmet laws. Even if you do not want to wear a helmet, there is a good chance that it could save your life during your next ride.

What are the risks of riding a motorcycle without a helmet?

If you choose to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, you are putting yourself at risk of serious injuries, long-term complications and disabilities, high medical and rehabilitation costs, and more. This is because motorcycle helmets protect your brain, skull, face, eyes, mouth, and more. If these important parts of your body lack protection and you are involved in an accident, the risk of being severely injured or fatally killed increases. Below, we will briefly discuss the risks of riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

• Head and brain injuries: Falling off or being ejected from your bike is very common in motorcycle accidents. If you do not wear a helmet and fall off your bike, you are more likely to suffer a head or brain injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when one state changed its law and started allowing those 21 and older to ride motorcycles without helmets, there was a 14-percent increase in head injuries within only one year of the law change.
• Other serious injuries: Other serious injuries that can occur when the face, mouth, and eyes lack protection are broken jaw bones, broken cheekbones, broken eye sockets, loss of vision, broken nose, loss of or broken teeth, facial road burn, and more.
• Decreased visibility: Motorcycle helmets usually come with a face shield and visor. These two important items attached to your helmet typically help block the sun from entering your eyes and wind from reaching your face and affecting your vision. In addition, if any debris, rocks, or other items fly around, a visor and shield can protect you from injuries.
• Higher medical and rehabilitation costs: When you do not wear a helmet, you become subject to catastrophic injuries, which turn into lifelong disabilities. As a result, you will likely spend more time and money on receiving various medical treatments, undergoing procedures and surgeries, and learning to carry out your daily routine in new ways. This can severely affect your and your family’s finances for several years or even decades.

What states don’t require motorcycle helmets?

As of November 2024, three states do not have any motorcycle laws in place at all. These are Illinois, New Hampshire, and Iowa. The other 47 states have at least some type of law requiring certain age groups to wear helmets while riding their motorcycles. Here are the requirements for each state:

All riders: Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia

25 and younger: Missouri

20 and younger: Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah

18 and younger: Delaware

17 and younger: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

What are the motorcycle fatalities by state?

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there were 157 motorcycle fatalities reported in Missouri and 53 in Kansas in 2022. More than 200 motorcyclists lost their lives in these two states that year. In 2021, the reported number of motorcycle fatalities in Missouri was 166, and 47 in Kansas.

The data provided by the NSC shows that some states with more relaxed motorcycle helmet laws have more fatalities. For example, Florida had over 600 fatalities, Texas had over 500 fatalities, and Arizona had more than 200 fatalities. However, the country as a whole is experiencing an increase in motorcycle fatalities year after year.

How often could a helmet prevent a motorcycle fatality?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) explains that over 20,000 motorcycle riders have been killed over the past 50 years due to more relaxed helmet laws. The IIHS states, “If every state had required all riders to wear helmets from 1976 to 2022, 22,058 motorcyclists’ lives could have been saved.” This is 11 percent of motorcycle riders over the last five decades. The following are a few other statistics you should know when it comes to motorcycle helmets and fatalities:

• Over 80 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents that occurred in states with helmet laws were wearing helmets in 2022.
• More than 30 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents that occurred in states with no helmet laws were wearing helmets in 2022.
• Around 45 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents that occurred in states with helmet laws limited to certain ages were wearing helmets in 2022.

While these accidents still resulted in fatalities, there were more motorcycle riders wearing helmets in states that require them than in states that do not. Depending on the circumstances involved, those who failed to wear a helmet could have increased their chances of surviving.

How does failing to wear a motorcycle helmet affect liability?

Missouri and Kansas still allow you to file a claim and seek compensation even if you are considered partially liable for the accident. However, Missouri follows a pure comparative negligence system, which allows individuals to file a claim even if they are primarily (over 50 percent) at fault, and Kansas follows a modified comparative negligence system, allowing individuals to file a claim as long as they are less than 50 percent at fault. While defendants may claim the severity of your injuries was worse because you did not wear a helmet, this will often have only a small impact on your claims and the amount you can recover. A helmet may have reduced your injuries, but it would be difficult to claim that not wearing a helmet caused the crash.

The motorcycle accident lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys are committed to helping motorcycle accident victims take legal action and secure the fair compensation they deserve. If you or a family member recently suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident in Kansas City, MO, our team can file an accident claim on your behalf, help you navigate the legal process, and protect your rights. Our firm has proudly received the title of Kansas City’s Favorite Law Firm, and we strive to meet the expectations and responsibilities that come with this title every day. If you are ready to start, please call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation today. We are available any time at our main office in Kansas City, MO. If that location does not work for you, feel free to schedule an appointment at one of our other convenient office locations in Lee’s Summit, Parkville and St. Joseph (MO); Olathe, Kansas City, and Overland Park (KS).