Is It A Law To Wear Helmets While Riding Motorcycles In Oklahoma?

Even though in 1966 Oklahoma City passed a law that would require you to wear a helmet whenever you ride a motorcycle, the law kept changing multiple times. While at one point you would be asked to wear a motorcycle helmet only if you were below 21 years, at one point the age bar was dragged down to 18 years as well.

So, if you are wondering whether you need to wear a motorcycle helmet in Oklahoma, here are a few things that any personal injury lawyer in OKC will tell you:

Age And Role:

Currently, the law says that you need to wear a helmet if you are below 18 years while riding a motorcycle. However, if you are over 18 years old but your pillion is below the age, both you and your passenger have to wear helmets. You need to choose helmets that are certified by the U.S regulations and meet the guidelines specified by the U.S Department of Transportation.

Enforcement:

According to the personal injury lawyer in OKC, there is no specification regarding the enforcement of the law. There are two types of violation – primary and secondary.

In Oklahoma, the law does not determine wearing a motorcycle helmet as primary or secondary violation. Hence, the police can only stop you on suspicion of violating the law and check whether you are above 18 years so that you have the right to ride without wearing a helmet.

Now, even though the law does not require you to wear a helmet if you are over 18 years of age, riding without a helmet comes with its risks.

Chances of Getting Injured:

If you are riding without a helmet, you are increasing your chances of getting injured. A head injury can even be fatal. Studies show that you are likely to survive a motorcycle crash three times more if you are wearing a helmet.

No compensation:

You may hire a personal injury lawyer in OKC to demand compensation after an accident. But as per the modified comparative negligence law, your compensation can be reduced or totally denied if you were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Know your rights and be safe:

If you have been in an unfortunate event of getting injured in a motorcycle accident, get in touch with our personal injury lawyer in OKC at Foshee & Yaffee Attorneys at Law. We help you know your rights so that you can ask for compensation. However, we do recommend wearing a riding helmet for your safety.

**Disclaimer: This content is not to be construed as legal advice nor does it establish terms of a client-attorney relationship.