Phenix City Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Alabama state law does not treat motorcycle riders the same as motor vehicle drivers, but it broadly requires motorcyclists to follow the same road rules as people operating cars, trucks, and tractor-trailers. The law also has some rules and restrictions that apply specifically to people on motorcycles, including one that makes motorcycle helmets mandatory in almost all situations.

Understanding Phenix City motorcycle helmet laws can be essential to keeping yourself safe on the road and preserving your right to hold someone else legally liable for causing you to get hurt in a wreck. Here is a brief overview of what the law says in this regard, each aspect a diligent motorcycle accident attorney like David Bence could explain in further detail during a private consultation.

Are Helmets Required for All Riders?

You must always wear a safety helmet while operating or riding a motorcycle in Phenix City and throughout Alabama. Unlike other states, no exceptions are made for riders of a certain age or experience or even those riding in three-wheeled vehicles. The only time someone can skip wearing a helmet on a motorcycle is if they are a passenger in a sidecar with an enclosed cab.

Helmets worn by motorcycle riders and passengers in Phenix City must comply with physical specifications set out by state law to meet the helmet requirement. For example, they must have a shatter-proof exterior shell, impact-resistant interior padding, and a permanently attached chin strap. Notably, Alabama law does not strictly require you to wear eye protection or have a helmet with a visor attached to it while riding, which differs from the rules in other states.

How Helmet Use Can Affect a Motorcycle Crash Claim

Regarding criminal consequences, not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle in Alabama is a minor misdemeanor that will lead to a small fine upon conviction. However, the repercussions of violating Phenix City motorcycle helmet laws may be more expensive if someone fighting a motorcycle accident you were involved in claims that your failure to wear a helmet qualifies as contributory negligence.

Under Alabama’s uncommonly pure contributory negligence system, someone found to have been partially at fault for causing their injury is ineligible to recover any civil compensation for the effects of that injury. This means that even if someone else is entirely to blame for causing your motorcycle accident, any slight amount of fault you hold for your ensuing injuries because you were not wearing a helmet could be used against you.

A Phenix City Attorney Could Explain Motorcycle Helmet Laws in More Detail During a Consultation

While riding a motorcycle can be dangerous, even if you act responsibly and follow all applicable traffic laws, you can improve your chances of avoiding a serious injury in a wreck by wearing a properly fitted safety helmet. Additionally, you can comply with Phenix City motorcycle helmet laws and streamline seeking civil compensation for a wreck if you ensure you and your passengers are adequately protected on the road.

With or without a helmet, taking effective legal action over a motorcycle crash someone else caused can be tricky under the best of circumstances, especially if you try to do it without professional legal assistance. Call today to learn how Bence Law Firm, LLC, could help.