May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month! It’s a great time for riders to make sure they clearly understand Ohio’s helmet laws—and the potentially devastating consequences of riding unprotected. While the law may not require all riders to wear helmets, the medical and legal realities tell a different story that every motorcyclist should know.
Ohio’s Helmet Requirements
Unlike many states with universal helmet laws, Ohio takes a more limited approach. Currently, Ohio law only requires helmets for:
- Novice Riders. All motorcyclists during their first year of riding must wear a helmet. This requirement recognizes that inexperienced riders face higher accident risks.
- Young Riders. All motorcycle operators and passengers under age 18 must wear protective helmets.
- Riders Without Proper Insurance. If you don’t have the minimum Ohio insurance requirements, you’re required to wear a helmet regardless of age or experience.
- Passengers of Novice Riders. If you’re riding as a passenger with someone in their first year of having a motorcycle license, you must also wear a helmet.
The Consequences of Riding Without a Helmet
Ohio’s limited helmet law doesn’t reflect the harsh realities of motorcycle accidents. The decision to wear a helmet involves more than just following the minimum legal requirements—it affects your physical safety and legal rights.
The facts are stark. Riders without helmets are 40% more likely to suffer fatal head injuries and 15% more likely to experience non-fatal head injuries than those wearing proper protection. These statistics represent real Ohioans whose lives were forever changed—or ended—in seconds.
While riding without a helmet may be legal for experienced adult riders, this decision can impact your compensation after an accident. Insurance companies frequently argue “contributory negligence” to reduce settlements for un-helmeted riders, claiming you contributed to your own injuries. Strapping on a helmet could be the difference in securing the settlement you’re owed.
Protect Your Rights as an Ohio Motorcyclist
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident due to another driver’s negligence, you deserve full compensation for your injuries—regardless of helmet use. Insurance companies will try to minimize your claim by focusing on your helmet choice rather than the other driver’s negligence.
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help protect your rights when insurance companies try to blame you for your injuries. When negligent drivers cause motorcycle accidents that change your life, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so I can evaluate your case right away.
