How do motorcycle helmet use laws impact health care costs?
Unhelmeted riders have higher health care costs as a result of their crash injuries, and many lack health insurance. Results of NHTSA’s Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System study released in April 1995 show average inpatient hospital charges for unhelmeted motorcycle crash victims were 25 percent higher than for helmeted riders- $15,447 compared with $12,374. After California introduced a helmet use law in 1992, studies show health care costs associated with head-injured motorcyclists declined. Average charges for head-injured motorcyclists admitted to hospitals in San Diego County fell 32 percent from 1991 to 1992, from $53,875 to $36,744, and average charges for all injured motorcyclists fell 17 percent. For head-injured patients treated and released from emergency rooms, the drop was even more substantial – 43 percent. The total charges for head-injured motorcyclists seen in San Diego County trauma centers fell from $9.8 million in 1991 to $5.5 million in 1992 and $5.4 million in 19
