Motorcycles, Helmets, Wrecks, Brain Damage and the Freedom to be Stupid
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Requiring motorcycle owners to buy medical and disability insurance that will pay for their freedom - currently at the general public's expense - is an excellent idea. And, if they get caught riding without a helmet and the necessary insurance coverage, then take away their right to ride and hit them with a very high fine. Make it painful. Very painful.
We need to remember that there is no free lunch. Any freedom can cost society when exercised in an irresponsible way. Motorcyclists who are involved in wrecks and not wearing helmets account for a large number of victims suffering debilitating brain damage. In a society that wants maximum freedom from government intervention but also wants no patient left behind there is the perfect storm. On the one side of this argument are the motorcycles riders who say don't tread on my freedoms. Allow me to ride as I wish without taking away my right to choose whether or not to wear a helmet. That argument appeals to most as the true spirit of America. And the argument might die there if it weren't for the enormous costs associated with caring for brain damaged victims.
This issue isn't about whether or not the rider is at fault or is losing any freedom. Plain and simple it's about economics. Because of the call for universal health insurance society will have to find ways to cut costs. Like user fees those who assume certain levels of risk will be asked to pony up in the form of higher insurance premiums. It's an either or situation. Either assist in the cost or stop assuming the higher risk.
On the other side of any motorcycle wreck we see well-intentioned car or truck drivers without sufficient insurance coverage for the catastrophic injuries that can follow a motorcycle wreck. Putting fault aside, the costs associated with taking care of a brain damaged patient will sooner or later trump the call for less government and more freedoms. The tab for medical care has to be picked up by someone irrespective of fault issues. And that's the confluence of this perfect storm. Don't tread on my rights is also the chant of the other side; meaning don't dictate high insurance limits for car and truck owners just for the privilege of driving on public highways. The current minimum limit is $20,000.00 per person $40,000.00 per accident. This is a ridiculously low dollar amount of coverage when you consider that a few broken bones can cost $100,000.00 in medical expense and wage loss. So what is the answer?
For those who do carry more than the minimum limits and don't expose themselves to brain injury from not riding without a helmet they deserve to not have their rights tread on with higher taxes to pay for those who don't and suffer a brain injury. I believe the answer lies in letting people pick their poison. Allow any motorcycle owner to opt out of having to wear a helmet by meeting higher, much higher limits of underinsured and uninsured insurance coverage for disability and medical costs associated with an accident. Require motorcycle owners to buy medical and disability insurance that will pay for their freedom - currently at the general public's expense. And, if they get caught riding without a helmet and the necessary insurance coverage? Then take away their right to ride and hit them with a very high fine. Make it painful. Very painful.
As for the other users of the public highways, make everyone raise their insurance limits to $250,000.00. It makes perfect sense. Cars and trucks are lighter and are capable of ever higher speeds. In Iowa we don't inspect cars for safety so many people drive with cars that are unsafe for the public thoroughfare. The increasing number of accidents we see because of text messaging and cell phone usage while driving is a risk no less certain to lead to injury than riding a motorcycle without a helmet. And it is that risk that is being covered through financial accountability.
Oh we'll hear all about how it's un-American to take away another "right". We will certainly hear that it's "unfair" to impose upon their "freedom". But that should not be persuasive, because we need to keep in mind that rights without responsibility is chaos.
For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Drugs, Medical Devices and Implants.