All across Missouri, and especially in cities such as Kansas City and St. Louis, more and more people are riding bicycles. For the most part, the number of people wearing helmets when riding a bicycle has increased as well. Although bicycle helmets might not be the most stylish thing available, they’re definitely one of the most important accessories to include with your bicycle. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 900 deaths and around 494,000 emergency room visits in the U.S. in 2013 due to bicycle-related injuries.
As such, whenever getting on your bicycle, wear your helmet! Keep in mind that Missouri law doesn’t require you to wear a helmet, but wearing a safety-certified helmet can prevent serious injury or even death. Furthermore, remember that wearing a helmet can’t prevent negligent motorists or other individuals from causing serious injury, and if you were injured in a bicycle-related accident due to the negligence of another individual, contact the Kansas City personal injury attorneys at Popham Law today.In the meantime, you can find more information about Missouri bike helmet laws and other bicycle laws below.
Does Missouri Law Require a Bicycle Helmet?
In short, no. Missouri law doesn’t require helmets for bicyclists. However, there are some municipal laws in different cities in Missouri that have some helmet-related regulations. For instance, in St. Louis County, helmets are required for people under 17 years of age. In Columbia and St. Charles, bicyclists 16 and under are required to wear a helmet.
Missouri Bike Helmet Laws and Personal Injury
It is important to note that not wearing a helmet while bicycling puts you at an increased risk for head injuries in an accident. In fact, even though there are no state laws regarding helmet use, the Missouri law also states that wearing a safety-certified helmet can prevent serious head injuries or death.From a legal standpoint, if you suffered a head injury but you weren’t wearing a helmet, the lawsuit could be weakened by your negligence of proper safety equipment.Remember, a personal injury lawsuit involving a bicycle accident needs to show that one individual’s negligence caused the accident and the other person’s injuries. As such, it is always best, for your own health and safety, to always obey bicycle laws and even recommendations.
Contact Popham Law for a Free, No-Obligation Consultation
Whether wearing a helmet or not, if you were in an accident caused by another individual, you need to contact the personal injury attorneys at Popham Law as soon as possible. Our attorneys boast decades of experience in Missouri personal injury lawsuits and bicycle accident law, and we’re prepared to help you recover damages caused by your injuries. Our goal is to work with you, one-on-one, to build a strong case and hold the other individual(s) responsible for their actions. For a free, no-obligation consultation with our attorneys, call our Kansas City law firm today at (816) 221-2288 or (800) 578-2288 (toll free).
