Your Trusted Personal Injury Lawyers in Waterford, CT
Bike helmets offer many benefits, and everyone should consider utilizing safety equipment while cycling. However, the law only requires that kids wear them while bicycling in Connecticut. Countless studies over the years have continued to show that protecting your head can prevent severe injuries, leading to disabilities, or, in the worst case, fatalities.
Another thing to note is that while the statute does not require you to wear them, neglecting to protect your head could impact your claim for damages, even when it is entirely another person’s fault. Call our knowledgeable bike crash lawyers for questions about Waterford bicycle helmet laws.
Everyone must ensure they review, understand, and comply with the Waterford bike helmet laws to protect themselves and avoid citations. The age requirement for helmets changes this year on October 1st, and anyone under 18 years old must wear headgear that meets the minimum safety standards.
Police officers and state troopers enforce the regulations, and if they stop minors for failing to wear headgear, they could issue a violation to their parents or guardians. Penalties include verbal warnings and safety education requirements.
The bicycle helmet safety standards are certified by the federal government and meet the minimum requirements provided by the Snell Memorial Foundation or the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Compliant headgear has a label on the inside indicating it is CPSC certified or meets the CPSC bicycle standard.
They have adequate impact absorption, strong retention systems, and stability, which are the crucial elements needed to protect the cyclist’s head from sustaining trauma, leading to severe injuries. Ensuring it fits properly, maintaining it, and replacing it after accidents leading to significant impacts is vital.
Even though Connecticut safety laws only focus on minors, they are highly effective for protecting your head during accidents, and agencies promote wearing them for everyone. Certified headgear absorbs the high-impact energy, distributes the force, and prevents head injuries. That includes skull fractures, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries, which could lead to permanent disabilities.
Even incidents that occur at lower speeds can cause severe harm to your head and brain, as they have numerous life-saving benefits, preventing head, skull, and brain injuries and death. Wearing helmets and other safety gear available on the market these days is a simple step that could prevent devastating and lifelong consequences.
Essential things to keep in mind include the following:
Agencies conduct significant tests to ensure the helmet meets all the requirements needed to protect your head sufficiently during the impact of crashes. A knowledgeable lawyer could answer questions about the bicycle helmet regulations in Waterford during your appointment.
Wearing safety gear to protect yourself, particularly your head, can mean the difference between minor scrapes and bruises and suffering a traumatic brain injury. While the regulations only require them for minors, everyone can benefit significantly from wearing them while cycling.
Further, if a negligent motorist causes you harm, and you were not wearing protective gear, that could impact your settlement for damages. Contact our office to speak with a skilled lawyer for more information about the Waterford bicycle helmet laws.
We are committed to provide personalized attention to each and every client’s case – no matter how large or small– because that is each client’s only case. We are proud of our firm’s reputation of combining integrity and compassion with an unflinching dedication to getting the right result. We will do what we say.
