What if the bicycle rider was not wearing a helmet during the accident?
In Pennsylvania, wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle is not required by law. Instead, riders under the age of 12 must wear a helmet while on the road. If a bicycle rider is over the age of 12 and not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, it could have an impact on any legal action taken following the accident. In a Pennsylvania court, the judge or jury could potentially take a bicycle rider’s lack of helmet-wearing into consideration when awarding damages to a plaintiff. While the lack of a helmet could not be blamed as the sole cause of the accident, such a factor could be taken into account when analyzing the plaintiff’s carelessness or negligence in the accident. In a situation where the bicyclist was found to be partially at fault, a rider’s lack of wearing a helmet could be deemed to be evidence of recklessness or carelessness in the accident. However, when it comes to personal injury claims, the role of a helmet is not always seen as significant, and more attention is placed on the actual cause of the accident. In some cases, a bicyclist’s lack of wearing a helmet could actually be beneficial, as it would be evidence of suffering greater injuries as a result. Ultimately, whether or not a bicycle rider chooses to wear a helmet can be used to influence the outcome of a legal action in Pennsylvania.
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