[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/are-you-required-to-wear-a-motorcycle-helmet-in-indiana\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/are-you-required-to-wear-a-motorcycle-helmet-in-indiana\/","headline":"Are You Required to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet in Indiana?","name":"Are You Required to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet in Indiana?","description":"Indiana has no universal helmet law, or a law that requires anyone who rides a motorcycle to wear a helmet. The state repealed its universal helmet law in 1977. Today, only motorcycle operators and passengers under age 18, or operators with a learner\u2019s permit, must wear a helmet in our...","datePublished":"2020-01-21","dateModified":"2025-07-07","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/author\/philtruitt\/#Person","name":"Phil Truitt","url":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/author\/philtruitt\/","identifier":14,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f112f948511b1b4986cc42659aba88a8f0fcc0e3a93ed222ce1643fca1d6a2d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f112f948511b1b4986cc42659aba88a8f0fcc0e3a93ed222ce1643fca1d6a2d9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Truitt Law Offices","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Truitt-Law-Offices-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Truitt-Law-Offices-Logo.png","width":427,"height":59}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/motorcycle-rider-with-helmet.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/motorcycle-rider-with-helmet.jpg","height":666,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/are-you-required-to-wear-a-motorcycle-helmet-in-indiana\/","about":["Motorcycle Accident"],"wordCount":1025,"articleBody":"Indiana has no universal helmet law, or a law that requires anyone who rides a motorcycle to wear a helmet. The state repealed its universal helmet law in 1977. Today, only motorcycle operators and passengers under age 18, or operators with a learner\u2019s permit, must wear a helmet in our state.At Truitt Law Offices, we believe that every motorcycle rider should wear a helmet at all times when they are on the road. Studies show that helmets save lives and help to prevent\u00a0traumatic brain injury (TBI)\u00a0and other serious injuries in\u00a0motorcycle accidents. However, we also respect the rights of adults to ride without a helmet.If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident that someone else\u2019s negligent actions caused, we will work hard to pursue maximum compensation for you, regardless of whether you were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.\ufeff How Does Indiana\u2019s Helmet Law Work?Indiana\u2019s motorcycle helmet law is found at\u00a0Ind. Code \u00a7 9-19-7-1. The law specifically requires anyone under age 18 who operates or rides as a passenger on a motorcycle to wear:A helmet that meets federal safety standards, andProtective glasses, goggles or a transparent face shield.Typically, you can tell whether a motorcycle helmet meets\u00a0Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218\u00a0if it has a \u201cDOT\u201d sticker on the back of it. However, some manufacturers or distributors put counterfeit \u201cDOT\u201d stickers on helmets. So, you shouldn\u2019t rely on the sticker alone.To ensure that you are wearing a helmet that meets FMVSS 218, you should look for one that has:At least a one-inch thick foam inner linerSturdy chin strap and solid rivetsA weight of at least three poundsNo features which extend farther than 2\/10-inch from the helmet\u2019s surface.If a helmet meets Snell or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, then it should meet federal standards as well. If you buy a \u201cnovelty helmet,\u201d it may not meet any of those standards and comply with Indiana law. As a result, it may provide little to no protection if you should get into an accident.Keep in mind: Most motorcycle helmets today come equipped with a face shield. If you buy one that does not, then you need to make sure that you wear glasses or goggles.Indiana also requires novice motorcycle riders who have a learner\u2019s permit to wear a helmet \u2013 regardless of age. If you are an adult who meets all of the requirements to obtain a motorcycle endorsement on your Indiana driver\u2019s license, then you can ride without a helmet if you choose.Why Should You Wear a Motorcycle Helmet?At one time, virtually every state had a universal helmet law. However, in 1976, Congress took away the federal government\u2019s power to penalize states that lacked such laws by, for instance, depriving them of highway safety dollars. Today, only 19 states have a universal helmet law, as the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)\u00a0explains. Indiana is among 28 states with limited helmet laws. Only three states \u2013 Iowa, Illinois and New Hampshire \u2013 have no helmet law at all.So, should you wear a helmet even if the law does not require you to wear one? Most safety experts will say yes. Helmets simply provide a host of safety benefits. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that helmets are 37 percent effective in preventing fatalities among riders and 41 percent effective in preventing deaths among motorcycle passengers.Several different studies have shown that motorcycle helmets help to prevent:Traumatic brain injurySkull fracturesCervical spine (neck area) injuryEye injuryEar injury.Even if you are the safest motorcycle rider, the fact remains that you cannot control what others do. Any time you take your motorcycle on the road, you face the risk of getting hit by a negligent driver. If you wear a helmet, you will clearly minimize your risk of suffering serious injury or death.What Happens If You Get in a Motorcycle Wreck While Not Wearing a Helmet?Even if you are legally permitted to ride without a helmet, an insurance company may try to use your lack of a helmet against you if you get into a crash and file a bodily injury claim. This is because of Indiana\u2019s modified comparative fault system. Under this system, you can be barred from recovering any damages in a personal injury lawsuit if you are found to be 51 percent or more at fault for your injuries. Otherwise, you can still recover damages, but your damages may be reduced based on the percent of fault assigned to you.For instance, an insurance company may claim that your failure to wear a helmet contributed 20 percent to injuries, so your damages should be reduced by 20 percent. If you suffered $100,000 in damages, the insurance company may offer only $80,000 in damages.It is important to work with a lawyer who knows how to counter those tactics and protect the rights of motorcyclists. At Truitt Law Offices, we often work with doctors and accident reconstruction experts in motorcycle accident cases to establish our clients\u2019 damages. We will know how to respond to an insurance company\u2019s attempt to blame you for your injuries in a motorcycle crash, and we will demand maximum compensation for you.We always consult with our clients in order to determine their needs and goals. If an insurance company refuses to make a settlement offer that you wish to accept after your motorcycle accident, then we will be prepared to fight for you at trial if that\u2019s what it takes.Our Fort Wayne Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Are Here for YouAt\u00a0Truitt Law Offices, we care about our clients and their future. If a negligent driver caused a motorcycle crash that has left you with serious injuries, we will work tirelessly to pursue maximum compensation for you \u2013 regardless of whether you were wearing a helmet. To discuss the specific facts of your case in a free consultation, contact us today. We can assist you from our offices located in Fort Wayne, Huntington or Indianapolis.Visit Our Motorcycle Accident Injury Law Offices"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Are You Required to Wear a Motorcycle Helmet in Indiana?","item":"https:\/\/www.truittlawoffices.com\/blog\/are-you-required-to-wear-a-motorcycle-helmet-in-indiana\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]