What You Need to Know About Bike Helmet Laws in Boca Raton, FL

All cyclists should make it a point to wear helmets when they’re riding their bikes for their own personal safety. Numerous studies have been done on the importance and benefit of wearing helmets, and it has been shown that helmets reduce the risk of head injuries by as much as 88 percent, as well as the risk of facial injuries by 65 percent. There really is no reason not to wear a helmet every time you’re out on your bike.

Beyond the safety reasons for wearing a helmet, there are also legal ones to take into account. Many states and municipalities have passed helmet laws for cyclists. Therefore, it’s important for you to know whether such laws exist in your area.

Here’s a quick overview of bike helmet laws in Boca Raton, FL to give you a better understanding of the expectations in this state.

State helmet laws

In the state of Florida, all cyclists age 16 or younger are required to wear a bike helmet while they’re riding. Any passengers age 16 or younger, including children riding in bike trailers, are also required to wear helmets, whether the bicycle is on the sidewalk or the road.

The state also sets specific requirements for the helmets themselves under these same guidelines. You should only purchase helmets that feature the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sticker, which indicates the helmet has gone through the commission’s rigorous testing to ensure it meets all of the standard federal helmet safety regulations. People wearing bike helmets must also fasten them correctly—they should fit securely on the rider’s head without wobbling around.

There are no laws that require bike helmet use by people older than 16 in Florida. In fact, no state has laws that require adult cyclists to wear a helmet. However, all states highly recommend the usage of helmets for adults and all riders to protect themselves from injury.

There are other legal incentives for wearing a helmet as well. If you get into an accident caused by another person’s negligence, you could potentially lose out on some of the money you’d be able to recover as compensation in a personal injury lawsuit if you were not wearing a helmet, if there’s reason to believe a helmet could have prevented or at least minimized the injury. It would indicate to the court that you did not take all of the proper safety precautions to protect yourself from injury, which could result in you bearing at least a small percentage of liability in your claim. So not only does a helmet protect you from significant injury, but it also protects you from potential lost compensation in any ensuing personal injury claims.

If you have any questions about helmet laws in in Boca Raton, FL, whether they be for bicyclists or motorcyclists, we encourage you to contact Bicycle Doctor House Calls today and we will be happy to provide you with further information. While you’re at it, be sure to ask about our mobile bike repair services!

Categorised in: Safe Biking

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