Motorcycle Helmet Laws in North Carolina

No matter how experienced and cautious you are as a motorcyclist, you face an ever-present risk of a crash when riding on the road. Many motorcycle accidents are caused by automobile drivers who are not alert for motorcycles. Unfortunately, even when an automobile driver is at fault, the motorcyclist typically suffers the brunt of the injuries.

One of the most important ways motorcycle riders can protect themselves is by wearing sturdy safety gear. You have a far better chance of avoiding serious injury in a crash if you wear an approved helmet, face protection, and protective clothing. North Carolina law requires motorcyclists and passengers to wear a helmet that has a firm inner liner that complies with federal standards. You should familiarize yourself with the state’s motorcycle helmet laws and learn what safety equipment can help reduce the risk or severity of motorcycle crash injuries.

If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Jacksonville, North Carolina due to someone else’s fault, turn to the experienced motorcycle accident lawyers at The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A. Our attorneys serve as strong advocates for injured people in Jacksonville and surrounding communities in North Carolina.

Our attorneys and staff live, work, and raise their families in this community. We’re committed to serving our neighbors when they come to our firm for help. You can expect us to take the time to get to know you so that we understand your concerns and needs.

Contact us today for a free case review to discuss your rights and options. We can help you pursue a legal claim for compensation if you’ve been injured in a North Carolina motorcycle accident due to someone else’s negligence.

What Are the Motorcycle Helmet Requirements in North Carolina?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wearing a helmet when you ride a motorcycle can reduce the risk of head injuries in an accident by 69 percent and the risk of death from an accident by 37 percent. The CDC estimates that several hundred more lives could be saved every year if every motorcycle operator and passenger wore a helmet every time they got on a motorcycle. A helmet could save your life, and it’s the law.

Under North Carolina law, all operators and passengers must wear helmets that comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218. Manufacturers permanently affix the symbol “DOT” on the back of helmets that comply with the standards. The inside of the helmet also must have a label that includes the following information:

• The name of the helmet manufacturer or other identifying information
• The model name of the helmet
• The helmet’s size
• The date of the helmet’s manufacture
• The materials used for the outer shell and inner lining
• Care and cleaning instructions

Helmets with a label from the Snell Memorial Foundation offer an added assurance of qualification.

A legally compliant helmet must have a firm inner lining of polystyrene foam that is at least one inch thick. In addition, this foam liner may be covered with a comfort liner. The helmet has to be secured on the head with a chin strap.

Non-compliant helmets generally have soft thin padding and lack a DOT sticker attached to the helmet by the manufacturer. Purchasing a separate DOT sticker and placing it on a non-compliant helmet does not make the helmet comply with the federal safety standards. Choosing a compliant helmet could be the difference between walking away from a crash and a lifelong disability.

Some motorcyclists don’t wear helmets because they think a helmet limits their vision to the side. An approved helmet allows you to see as far to the sides as is necessary.

Riders wearing helmets are three times more likely to survive head injuries than those not wearing helmets at the time of a crash, according to the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles. Any motorcycle operator or passenger caught riding a motorcycle without a helmet that conforms to federal safety standards could face penalties, including a fine.

What Other Safety Equipment Should Motorcyclists Wear?

A helmet can save you from head injuries in the event of a motorcycle accident. But there are more pieces of gear that you should add to your safety kit. You can avoid or reduce the severity of injuries in a crash by wearing the following types of protective gear:

• Eye protection – North Carolina law doesn’t require operators or passengers to wear eye protection, but motorcyclists should wear some form of eye protection, either goggles or a face shield. A face shield that is shatter-resistant can protect your whole face in a crash, and protect you from dirt, dust, flying gravel, and insects while riding as well. Without eye protection, the wind can affect a rider’s vision. Ideally, riders should wear a helmet with a full-face shield.
• Boots or other sturdy footwear – Riders should choose footwear that covers the ankles. The heels of the boots or shoes should be short, so they don’t catch on uneven surfaces. Sturdy footwear can help protect riders’ feet from injury caused by road debris and help prevent or reduce the severity of foot and ankle injuries in a crash.
• Gloves – Riders should wear snug gloves that don’t restrict hand or finger movement. Gloves can help protect hands from injury from road debris while also keeping hands warm in cold weather so that a rider can operate the hand controls on the bike. Gloves can help a rider keep a good grip on the handlebars.
• Riding jacket – Riders should wear a jacket made of leather or another thick, durable material, even in warmer weather. A jacket can help protect a rider from road rash or lacerations in the event the rider is thrown from the motorcycle.
• Sturdy pants –Riders should also wear long pants made of durable material to protect their legs in the event of a crash.

Finally, riders should wear brightly colored clothing or place reflective materials on their clothing and helmet. This can help make motorcyclists more visible on the road, especially in low lighting or at night, and prevent collisions.

Visit Our Motorcycle Accident Injury Law Offices

Call an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in North Carolina and you believe that another motorist was at fault, you may be entitled to significant compensation to cover your medical bills and other accident expenses. Don’t wait to explore your legal options until it is too late to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. An experienced Jacksonville motorcycle accident lawyer from The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., will be ready to review the details of your accident and evaluate your options free of charge when you call us or reach out to us online.