LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center found a spike in motorcycle crash injuries in Nebraska.
It came right after the state repealed a helmet mandate.
On Jan. 1, 2024, the repeal of a law that required bike riders to wear helmets went into effect.
UNMC looked into whether there was a change, and it said the answer was a “resounding yes.”
SEE ALSO: With helmets now optional in Nebraska, authorities urge caution around bikers
The study has not been published, but UNMC provided Channel 8 with the findings.
In 2023, 140 motorcyclists were brought to trauma hospitals in Lincoln and Omaha, according to the study.
But in 2024, that number increased 110% to 294.
Of those patients, 20% were not wearing helmets in 2023.
But in 2024, that number skyrocketed to 64%.
A pair of riders shared why they strap up.
“I’ve had a few accidents myself, some with a helmet and some without,” said Prestin Fonfara. “I’ve always felt a little more comfortable when you hit the ground and you’ve got something to protect your head.”
Maddie Oden recommended that people “dress for the slide, not the ride.”
“People don’t want to wear equipment because they want to be out in the air and feel the breeze,” she said. “God forbid if anything happened. In our accident a couple years ago, I was told if I wasn’t wearing a helmet, I wouldn’t have lived through it.”
SEE ALSO: Motorcycle safety courses ‘maxed out’ so Nebraskans can ride helmetless
The UNMC researchers said 27% of patients who weren’t wearing helmets died, compared with only 15% of those who were.
The study also found the repeal of the helmet law is costing money.
On average, it costs $7,000 more to care for someone who isn’t wearing a helmet.
SEE ALSO: Looking to ride without a helmet? Here’s what Nebraska motorcyclists need to know
Kyle Deckoteau, the general manager at Frontier Harley-Davidson in Lincoln, has been riding for 15 years.
“It’s not if it’s going to happen; it’s when,” he said of motorcycle crashes. “You could slide on some gravel, something loose like oil or water, you never know.”
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