Motorcyclists who are over 18 in South Dakota do not legally have to wear a helmet, nor do those in Iowa and Illinois. However, Nebraska is one of 20 states that have helmet laws for all riders. But regardless of whether a motorcyclist is legally required to don a helmet when heading out for a ride, it seems that these individuals see the value in this piece of protective gear regardless of the laws.

Carl Kerns dubs a helmet a "lifesaver" and explains, "They help you out more than you know, I mean if you hit the ground they say you'll have either closed casket or open casket, but chances are a little better if you have a helmet on. Your freedom of the road is your choice, but if at some point you do hit the ground, I'd rather have something in between me and the road."

Michael J. Gopin reviews the importance of wearing this piece of fiberglass or Kevlar saying, "A helmet certainly cannot protect a rider from all injuries, but it can help minimize damage done to a person's skull and brain. Traumatic head injuries prove extraordinarily dangerous and often fatal, so if you can wear something that can reduce this risk, why wouldn't you? The pieces have become highly evolved over the years, and are more comfortable and better looking than ever before. There is really no excuse not to wear a helmet whenever you take your bike out."

Motorcycle rider Don Travis is not as focused on wearing a helmet all the time, but does see the value in the protective gear. He states, "In Canada we have to wear them all the time, so when we come down here it's nice to take them off for a change.

I like to be able to take it off once in a while, but most of the time I do wear it, especially when the weather is bad. When you're cruising down the highway, if you have an accident and you're not wearing a helmet it's not going to do you any good."

Lt. Alan Welsh of the South Dakota Highway Patrol explains the importance of protective gear noting, "When you're going to drive, you kind of have to have your game face on. You can't be lackadaisical, and you can't not pay attention even for a moment because something very bad can happen in that moment."

According to Michael J. Gopin, reviews of the importance of helmets show that they are a necessity for riders of any age or experience level.

ABOUT:

Michael J. Gopin reviews laws and precedents carefully, thus ensuring that his clients have the best chance of achieving a favorable outcome in their court cases. Gopin is a personal injury attorney who leads the team at the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, P.C. He handles truck accidents, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slips and falls, and a number of other types of personal injury cases. He graduated from St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio, Texas and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas upon completing his degree.