California is one of the 19 states in the US which has a universal helmet law. It requires that motorcycle riders and passengers, regardless of age and the type of road they are traveling on, wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards when riding a motorcycle. The helmet must be a Department of Transportation (US DOT) compliant helmet, which means that it was manufactured in compliance with federal safety standards. In the previous example, if the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet and he or she sustained a serious head injury in the crash, the judge may find that the rider shares some portion of the fault for the severity of the injuries which could have been diminished or prevented by wearing a helmet. These are all complex legal considerations that benefit from the guidance and experience of a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer.