Live free and die: Michigan’s motorcycle helmet law four years later

http://goo.gl/36cLIW

The cost of riding without a helmet:

Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids found higher mortality and medical costs among riders in crashes not wearing helmets. The study looked at 345 motorcycle crash victims over the course of four years, before and after repeal of the 2012 mandatory helmet law.

Average medical cost
Riders without helmets: $27,760
Riders with helmets $20,970

Mortality rate 
Riders without helmets: 10 percent
Riders with helmets: 3 percent

Head injury scale (higher is more severe)
Riders without helmets: 2.2
Riders with helmets: 1.3

Overall injury severity score (Scoring six body regions including head and neck) 
Riders without helmets: 19
Riders with helmets: 14.5