New Jersey’s motorcycle helmet law is in place to protect riders in case of motorcycle accidents. The thinking is, of course, that if a motorcyclist were involved in a collision, the helmet would go a long way in protecting their heads in the crash.

While conceptually that sounds great, there are some real issues with the premise of “helmets save lives.”

1. First, depending on the type of accident, a helmet may provide little protection against catastrophic injury.
2. Second, as far as traumatic brain injury goes, a helmet can’t protect a brain from slamming back and forth inside the skull.
3. Also, a helmet can’t prevent serious neck and spinal injuries that can cause paralysis and even death.

Then there is the issue of the quality of the helmet. The old “you get what you pay for adage” aside, when consumers hear about helmet recalls it can really make you start thinking. Case in point is the recent recall on the GMAX Helmet (full-face GM78).

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that almost 3,000 helmets manufactured by GMAX Helmet LLC are being recalled because “the affected helmets may not adequately protect a user in the event of a crash.”

The recall involved size medium helmets produced between Jan. 1, 2012 and December 30, 2014. The helmets don’t comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements and, subsequently, according to the recall notice, “an individual’s head may not be fully protected when wearing this helmet, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.”

Interestingly enough, GMAX hasn’t yet come up with a remedy for this problem.

Therefore, 1) contact GMAX at 208-376-8400 if you own one of these recalled helmets; 2) share this news with your friends and family in case they bought this helmet; 3) rely on your own common sense and take proper safety precautions when riding at all times. Don’t rely on helmets and other so-called safety equipment to protect you.

The only surefire way to avoid getting hurt while riding a motorcycle is to avoid riding motorcycles. For many, understandably so, this is just not an option.

To read more about the motorcycle helmet recall, read the MotorcyclistOnline.com article, “RECALL NEWS: GMAX GM-78 HELMETS RECALLED FOR FAILURE TO PROTECT RIDERS IN A CRASH.”

If you or someone you care about is injured on a motorcycle, contact an experienced lawyer who is passionate about fighting for the rights of riders. Andrew S. Prince of Team Law will work tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation possible in your personal injury lawsuit. Further, if your accident was caused, even in part, by a faulty product, Mr. Prince will explain your options regarding a potential product liability claim.