In multiple press releases, the California Highway Patrol has been warning drivers about motorcycle safety due to a series of bad accidents in the San Luis Obispo area.
According to CHP records, there have been two serious-injury motorcycle accidents and two fatal motorcycle accidents in the past 3 weeks in the area. Officials claim that the nice weather of this time of year mean more motorcyclists on the road, so they want everyone to be aware of safety. Their main message in the campaign is that all helmets are not created equal.
“The difference is life and death,” Santa Barbara County resident Carrie Zimmerman said. “I’ve lost my brother on a motorcycle who did not have a helmet on and he (suffered) head trauma. And I’ve lost an uncle for the same reason.”
CHP Officer Rob Wallace says that’s why CHP is speaking at the Santa Barbara County Fair. “The risk versus gain is do you want to live and be safe? Or do you want to potentially compromise your safety and risk possibly a fatal injury because you want to be comfortable?” Wallace said.
CHP is also concerned that people are wearing novelty helmets, helmets that are more for looks than protection, simply to get around the law.
Zimmerman said, “The legal helmet with all the Styrofoam in it protects the head from trauma, then (Wallace) showed us a novelty helmet, which has zero protection. It’s just for looks an if you get in an accident and hit your head with it you might as well say goodbye.”
As a Ventura motorcycle accident lawyer, I’ve seen some pretty bad motorcycle accidents and educating the public about safety is essential to ensuring everyone gets where their going unscathed. If you’ve been injured in an accident that you believe was the result of another’s negligence, speak with a personal injury lawyer in your area to learn more about your legal rights in the matter.
