Recently, a California couple riding a motorcycle on a California freeway together was injured in a serious collision. According to NBC 7, the motorcycle crash shut down a portion of the freeway while the couple was quickly transferred to a nearby hospital. The man driving the motorcycle suffered from a spinal injury and was placed on life support. The female passenger had to have surgery done to reconstruct her legs and suffered from a pelvic injury as well as a collapsed lung.
In order to show support, hundreds of the couple's friends and family members have joined together in order to raise funds to cover their medical bills. Currently, the online fund has raised approximately $37,000 and people as far away as the United Kingdom and Hawaii have donated. One of the couple's friends who was one of the original creators of this fund stated that in addition to visiting the injured couple at the hospital, they keep riding their motorcycle in tribute.
California helmet laws
Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents like this one that have serious medical consequences for the victims are not uncommon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 2001 and 2008, more than 24,000 motorcyclists were killed. During this same time period, motorcycle death rates increased by 55 percent.
Motorcyclists in California anxious to get out their bikes and enjoy the warmer spring temperatures should do several things in order to minimize their risk of injury, such as:
- Never riding their motorcycle after drinking.
- Wearing protective clothing in bright colors or reflective materials to increase their visibility on the road.
- Maintaining a safe speed while riding and avoiding tailgating other vehicles.
Although these actions are important, one of the best things a motorcyclist can do for their safety is to wear a helmet. The CDC states that wearing a helmet reduces a motorcyclist's risk of death by 37 percent and their chances of incurring a head injury by 69 percent.
Not only is wearing a helmet a good idea for motorcyclists, but it is also a requirement by law in California. According to the CDC, California is just one of three states in the region that has enacted a universal helmet law. This means that all motorcyclists, regardless of age, have to wear a helmet whenever they ride.
Contact an attorney
Unfortunately, wearing a helmet is often enough to prevent the injuries motorcyclists incur due to negligent drivers. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, contact an attorney that can protect your legal rights.