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NHTSA Tightens Labeling Requirements to Protect Motorcyclists from Defective Helmet-Related Injuries

Any Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney knows that wearing a motorcycle helmet can substantially reduce a person’s chances of suffering serious or fatal injuries in an accident.  For this, however, it is very important that the motorcyclist is wearing a helmet that is approved by the Department of Transportation.  Unfortunately, novelty helmets have become increasingly popular, even though these are not approved by the Department of Transportation.  Now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is targeting manufacturers of these novelty helmets by tightening helmet certification and labeling requirements.

Helmets are tested against federal standards for safety.  These standards are contained in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218.  Helmets that are approved by the Department of Transportation are put through a testing process, in which a number of criteria, including penetration resistance and impact absorption of the helmets are measured.  It’s only after these testing procedures are complete that the helmet is approved, and the label certifying that it has been approved by the Department of Transportation is affixed to the helmet.

However, in recent years, a number of companies have been affixing Department of Transportation-approved labels onto helmets in spite of the fact that these are not approved by the federal agency.  When the motorcyclist wears a helmet that is not approved by the Department of Transportation, he’s entrusting his safety, and possibly his life, to a piece of equipment that has not been tested and found reliable for safety.

It’s very important for motorcyclists to know that their chances of avoiding injuries in an accident depend heavily on the kind of helmets that they are wearing.  If the helmet can’t withstand the kind of impact that is generated when a motorcyclist crashes into a stationary object or another vehicle, the motorcyclist may be at risk of head injuries and brain injuries.  What makes the situation worse is that many motorcyclists are not aware of the easy availability of non- approved helmets out there.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has now announced that it is tightening labeling requirements for motorcycle helmets in order to help motorcyclists buy only approved helmets.  Helmets will now come with new stickers that clearly mention the words “DOT FMVSS 218 Certified.” The label will also include the name of the manufacturer as well as the helmet models.  This will make it easier for law enforcement to crack down on unapproved helmets, and will also make it easier for motorcyclists to weed out unapproved helmets from the Department of Transportation –approved ones.

A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has shown that motorcycle accident deaths can be reduced by as much as 37% if all riders wear helmets.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of motorcycle accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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