Motorcylce helmet laws

[33girl]

Only if getting their head split open can result in our city going into depression and bankruptcy.

No seriously, considering I only wear my seatbelt about 40% of the time, it'd be pretty damned hypocritical of me to say yes.

[AlphaFrog]

Social Darwinism, that's all I got to say.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Social Darwinism, that's all I got to say.

Here's the problem with the Darwinism thing.

All to often people in accidents without helmets don't die but suffer longterm brain damage. Even with insurance, in the end they'll likely end up on Medicaid... and who is going to pay for that? You and Me.

[docetboy]

Ben R. was one of the vocal proponents of Pennsylvania's lack of a helmet law.

'Nough said.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Here's the problem with the Darwinism thing.

All to often people in accidents without helmets don't die but suffer longterm brain damage. Even with insurance, in the end they'll likely end up on Medicaid... and who is going to pay for that? You and Me.

True...but at least the shallow end of the gene pool gets a little smaller. Although then if these people have already had kids, then we pay for them too.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

True...but at least the shallow end of the gene pool gets a little smaller. Although then if these people have already had kids, then we pay for them too.

I can't keep up with this quick reply thing.

Regardless, I don't understand why people don't wear seat belts or helmets. They save your life in the vast majority of situations. Everyone has the friends uncles cousin who swears that they would have died if they'd had a seat belt on, but in 999 cases out of a 1000 you want to stay in the car and not hit the windshield and/or pavement. Why not wear a seatbelt because of 1 out of a thousand (very conservative)?

Same thing applies with helmets...

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

All too often people in accidents without helmets don't die but suffer longterm brain damage. Even with insurance, in the end they'll likely end up on Medicaid... and who is going to pay for that? You and Me.

Which is why I think that any state that allows motorcycle riding without a helmet should also provide by law that insurance companies can refuse to cover any head injury resulting from a motorcycle accident if the injured wasn't wearing a helmet. Medicaid should be able to deny benefits as well.

Anyone who wants the "freedom" to ride a motorcycle without a helmet should have to accept responsibility for the consequences of riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by MysticCat81

Which is why I think that any state that allows motorcycle riding without a helmet should also provide by law that insurance companies can refuse to cover any head injury resulting from a motorcycle accident if the injured wasn't wearing a helmet. Medicaid should be able to deny benefits as well.

Anyone who wants the "freedom" to ride a motorcycle without a helmet should have to accept responsibility for the consequences of riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Agreed, to an extent. I don't think that my tax dollars should pay for someone else's "right" to have their hair blow free while on a motorcycle. ER doctors & nurses don't call them "Donorcycles" for nothing.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Agreed, to an extent. I don't think that my tax dollars should pay for someone else's "right" to have their hair blow free while on a motorcycle. ER doctors & nurses don't call them "Donorcycles" for nothing.

Uh, the post was about insurance, not MedicAid or any other tax-funded program - do taxes often pay for this sort of thing?

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Uh, the post was about insurance, not MedicAid or any other tax-funded program - do taxes often pay for this sort of thing?

If they are permanently disabled, they sure do. Once that insurance runs out, they're being treated and living on our dimes. Also, you can bet that our insurance rates go up if there are too many very expensive claims.

I am in favor of the law because I think it would also be unethical to let a human being die because their insurance wouldn't cover their injury and the government wouldn't pay the bills either. Hospitals shouldn't have to absorb any more free care than they already do (the health system I work for absorbs $100 million in free care every year). Hospitals have to treat life endangering injuries whether a person is insured or not and whether they get paid or not.

There is a bill in the Michigan congress now to repeal our helmet law but the governor says she will veto it and I don't think it has enough support for her veto to be overridden.

I had a friend in Oklahoma who was an orthopedic surgeon who rode his damn motorcycle without a helmet all the time and finally crashed. He was in a coma for weeks and will never practice medicine (or hold any job) again. I will always wonder how an orthopedic surgeon could have been so dumb.

[fullertongreek]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Social Darwinism, that's all I got to say.

You would get shot in Pittsburgh right now for saying that...

[AKA_Monet]

Protect yourself at all times...

Folks in California voted and approved their helmet law at least 15 years ago...

The reason is CalTrans and the CHiPs kept getting sued when unhelmeted folks donated their intelligence to the pavement...

[HBADPi]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Protect yourself at all times...

Folks in California voted and approved their helmet law at least 15 years ago...

The reason is CalTrans and the CHiPs kept getting sued when unhelmeted folks donated their intelligence to the pavement...

Oh wow so we do have a helmet law...does that extend to bicycles? I see far too many people on bikes on surface streets without helmets...

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by HBADPi

Oh wow so we do have a helmet law...does that extend to bicycles? I see far too many people on bikes on surface streets without helmets...

No.

-Alpha
--Bike Helmets are for wussies.

[BobbyTheDon]

Originally Posted by HBADPi

Oh wow so we do have a helmet law...does that extend to bicycles? I see far too many people on bikes on surface streets without helmets...

Yes in CA you have to wear helmets when riding a bicycle as well.