I love weekends riding my motorcycle on the back roads of Tennessee, but I am not sure my helmet is safe. How do I choose the best helmet?
Helmets do save lives and finding the best one is critical to your safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that approximately 40% more riders suffer serious injury when they choose not to wear one.
Federal law protects you when you buy a helmet. The U.S. Department of Transportation (UDOT) requires that all helmets sold in this country meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). They attempt to test all helmets on the market to see if they meet this standard.
However, some merchants slip by the rules and sell substandard novelty motorcycle helmets to unsuspecting consumers. Here are the things you should look for when you choose a helmet:
There should be a DOT sticker on the outside back of the helmet. This sticker guarantees the helmet meets the FMVSS standards.
Snell, an independent safety group, also marks helmets they have approved with a sticker inside the helmet.
Helmet manufacturers are required to place a sticker inside the helmet that includes their name, size, model and date manufactured. You will not find this kind of label on a cheap helmet.
There should be an inner liner of firm polystyrene foam around the inside of the helmet. Soft padding or no padding at all indicates an unsafe helmet.
A good quality chinstrap with strong rivets is another requirement.
Your helmet should weigh at least three pounds; cheap ones may weigh as little as one pound.
No decoration should extend more than .20 inches from the helmet’s surface.
Full-face helmets are safer, but not required.
Check your helmet for these standards. If it meets them, you can rest assured your helmet will protect you in a Tennessee motorcycle accident.
The Memphis motorcycle accident lawyers at Greer Injury Lawyers wish you a safe and fun-filled time on your bike. Remember, if you or a loved one does have an injury caused by an unscrupulous helmet manufacturer, the law is on your side. Call us today to discuss your options locally at 901-680-9777 and toll-free at 888-470-9143.