Wearing a properly sized and fitted safety helmet is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to reduce your risk of serious injury while operating or riding a motorcycle. With that said, not everyone who gets on the back of one of these machines is required by law to wear a helmet, and not all vehicles that resemble motorcycles are treated the same when it comes to required safety gear.
Making sense of and adhering to Mesa motorcycle helmet laws is vital to protecting yourself physically in the event of a wreck, and protecting your right to demand civil compensation from someone who negligently causes you to get hurt. Here is a brief overview of what state law has to say on this particular topic, all of which a motorcycle accident lawyer from Phillips Law Group can explain in more detail as needed.
Who Is Required to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet?
Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-964, both operators and passengers of motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and all-terrain vehicles are required to wear protective helmets at all times while riding. While both medical and legal professionals would strongly recommend that riders over the age of 18 also wear safety helmets while riding, the motorcycle helmet laws in Mesa do not require riders older than 18 to use this equipment.
However, the law does require motorcycle operators of all ages and experience levels to wear protective glasses, a transparent face shield, goggles, or some other form of shatterproof eye protection at all times while riding. This requirement can be met by attaching a visor to a motorcycle helmet. This section of state law also notes that neither the helmet requirements nor the eye protection requirements mentioned above apply to operators or passengers in three-wheeled vehicles that are electrically powered or have enclosed cabs.
How Not Wearing a Helmet Could Impact a Civil Claim
Even if someone is not legally required to wear a motorcycle helmet while riding in and around Mesa, deciding not to wear one could come back to haunt them in more than one way. On top of the increased risk of sustaining debilitating brain trauma in a wreck, helmetless riders are also more likely to be found partially at fault for causing their own injuries through their own misconduct.
More specifically, if the defendant in a motorcycle accident lawsuit argues to a court’s satisfaction that the injuries sustained by the person suing them could have been avoided with proper use of a safety helmet, the court overseeing that claim may assign a percentage of comparative fault to that rider. Then, in accordance with A.R.S. § 12-2505, the court could reduce the value of that rider’s final damage award in proportion to that percentage, potentially leading to them missing out on thousands of dollars in civil restitution.
A Mesa Attorney Can Further Explain Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Whether you choose to wear a helmet while riding your motorcycle or not, it is important to know what specifically is required by Mesa’s motorcycle helmet laws. In the event you get hurt in a motorcycle wreck that was someone else’s fault, it will also be important for you to have support from seasoned legal counsel as early as possible in your pursuit of civil compensation.
As local advocates in the area for over 30 years, Phillips Law Group can provide the guidance you need to achieve the best possible outcome from your claim. Call today to learn more about your legal options from one of our team members.
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