Bill Proposes Changes To Tennessee Motorcycle Helmet Law
February 15, 2012
Debate has been stirred on Capitol Hill in Nashville, Tennessee, over a proposed law change that would allow some motorcycle riders a choice on whether or not to wear a helmet when riding. According to an article released by News Channel 5, House Bill 2661 would allow riders who are 21-years of age or older to choose to not wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle. As the current state law stands, everyone on a motorcycle is required to wear head and eye protection.
While some say the decision to wear a helmet should be a personal choice, others feel like it’s a matter of public safety and simple economics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that motorcycle accidents resulting in injuries and-or deaths have an annual cost to taxpayers of around $12 billion. A study by the organization confirmed these findings by examining cases of 105 different motorcycle accident victims hospitalized in major trauma centers across the country. They determined that 63% of the costs for those patients care was covered by public funds, with roughly half of the charges being covered by Medicaid.
Experts believe that these numbers would only rise with a change to helmet laws.
The Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Lawyers with Hughes and Coleman encourage motorcyclists to wear helmets at all times, regardless of what the law states. Doing so can cut your chances of dying in the event of an accident in half.
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Tags: cost of motorcycle crash, House Bill 2661, Motorcycle helmet Safety, Tennessee Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, Tennessee Motorcycle Crash Attorney, Tennessee Motorcycle Helmet Laws