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What Are the Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Florida?

On Behalf of | Dec 15, 2020 | Tampa motorcycle Accidents, Tampa Personal Injury

For many Floridians, there’s nothing better than hitting the open road on a motorcycle. It’s a unique feeling of freedom that you just can’t get from behind the wheel of a car. But motorcycles come with their own set of dangers. There are no seatbelts, no roll cages and no airbags to help cushion the blow of an impact. Riders do have helmets — or at least some of them do, as Florida law does not impose a universal helmet requirement.

Florida has a partial helmet law, which reads, “A person over 21 years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle without wearing protective headgear securely fastened upon his or her head if such person is covered by an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle.”

In other words, as long as you are over 21 and have at least $10,000 worth of insurance, you are not required to wear a helmet in Florida. Neither the driver nor the passenger is required to wear a helmet. A helmet is mandatory for anyone under the age of 21, regardless of the insurance policy.

As experienced motorcycle accident lawyers, we have seen far too many motorcyclists and passengers suffer severe injuries in crashes. For those who choose not to wear helmets, injuries are usually worse and sometimes fatal. If you are an adult with appropriate insurance, you are certainly free to make your own choice about helmet use. But while you may feel that wearing a helmet diminishes your riding freedom, here are some compelling reasons to wear one:

  • Helmets prevent roughly 37 percent of motorcycle fatalities
  • Helmets reduce the instance of brain injury by about 67 percent
  • More than 1,800 lives are saved every year by helmet use

If you do find yourself injured in a motorcycle crash that was caused by someone else, whether you were wearing a helmet or not, you should seek the advice of a skilled, reputable Florida injury attorney. Your lawyer can unravel the insurance issues and pursue compensation outside of insurance if the circumstances warrant.

To get fast, effective representation from attorneys who understand the complex nature of motorcycle crashes, contact the trial attorneys at Frank Charles Miranda, P.A. Our Tampa firm is known for aggressive yet thorough representation of crash victims. Reach us by calling 813-902-3925 or contact us online anytime.

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