Injury Numbers Increase After US State Drops Mandatory Helmet Law

Hospital bills have increased significantly in Nebraska over the last year after the American state dropped its mandatory motorcycle helmet law, with extensive research conducted by the UNMC (University of Nebraska Medical Centre).

Thankfully we have no such laws in the UK as it is mandatory for riders to wear protective headwear, but in certain American states this does not apply. Worse yet, the state of Nebraska chose to change its helmet laws which had been mandated since 1989.

The change to helmet laws in Nebraska saw more than a 40 per cent increase in people suffering serious injuries from 2023 to 2024.

A report from local news outlet Kearney Hub said: “In 2023, nearly 21 per cent of seriously injured motorcyclists - 29 of 140 - were not wearing helmets. During 2024, the numbers reversed, with nearly 64 per cent - 124 of 294 - coming in without helmets”.

Data previously amassed by the Nebraska Highway Safety Office, indicated that less than 70 per cent of riders were wearing helmets in 2024. Nebraska's 32 recorded motorcycle deaths that year signified an increase of 45 per cent over 2023, where 22 motorcyclists died on the state’s roads.

Part of the research program, Dr. Anna White, a UNMC general surgery resident said: “A big hope for us with this study is to help highlight the real risks and ramifications for patients who choose not to wear helmets and to try to show them what the reality of this could look like for them, in the hope that they can make an informed decision on what they want to do with their health care ... and make good decisions on how to keep themselves safe."

The uptick in serious accidents also led to increased hospital bills in the state, as researchers found that the additional number of patients not wearing helmets accounted for over $440,000 (around £294,000) in additional hospital costs the year following the law change.

Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com