Many self-insured employer health plans simply deny medical payments for injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents. This is a policy adopted by the employer, not the motorcyclist. The costs associated with unhelmeted motorcyclist injuries and fatalities compel the enactment of mandatory helmet laws to save taxpayer dollars. Only a portion of these costs are attributable to unhelmeted motorcyclists, the majority of which are paid by private insurance. There are 30 million motorcyclists nationwide.
Motorcyclists pay taxes, too.
Mandatory helmet laws are the most effective way to reduce the injuries and fatalities that result from motorcycle accidents. Helmets and helmet laws do not prevent accidents. Since 1975, the fatality rate for motorcyclists per 100 million vehicle miles traveled has declined nearly 56 percent even though the average vehicle miles traveled has increased 85 percent. Although these statistics are unmatched by any other category of road user, there remains room for improvement. Nearly 50 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol.