Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that all helmets sold in the U.S. meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. Every year DOT does compliance testing to check that helmets are meeting this standard. Many states also have laws requiring the use only of these helmets.

However, there are helmets sold that do not meet this standard -- they are sold as novelty items and some realize they are unsafe but some do not. People wear them anyway.

Features to Look For in a Safe Helmet

• A strong chin strap that is riveted to the helmet
• A weight of three pounds, not less
• An inner lining of polystyrene foam about an inch thick
• No projections on the helmet exterior larger than 2/10 inch
  

Labels to Look For

1. There should be a sticker on the back of the helmet's outside surface with "DOT" on it. There are also fake DOT stickers, sold separately and attached to a non-complying helmet.
2. So also look inside the helmet for a Snell label or an ANSI label (American National Standards Institute). If the helmet meets the standards of one of these private, non-profit organizations, the chances are good that it also meets the DOT standards.
3. There should be a manufacturer's label somewhere on the helmet that gives the manufacturer's name, the model and size, the month and year it was made, and the materials it was made from. The presence of this label is a good indication that the helmet is compliant.
   

No single label is sure proof that a helmet is compliant, but if all the labels are there and the helmet has the features listed above, you can be confident.

Wearing a helmet does not of course guarantee you will never be injured. But it does reduce your chances of a brain injury, and these are among the most devastating injuries a person can sustain. They can cause countless disabling conditions, depending on exactly which part of the brain was hurt, and how badly, and can even paralyze you for life.

If you have been severely injured in a motorcycle accident and would like to know more about your legal rights and options, please contact us for a highly-qualified motorcycle accident attorney.