Helmet use is not associated with overall injury severity, discharge
status, or insurance status. (University of North Carolina Highway Safety
Research Center, June 1992).
Injured motorcycle operators admitted to trauma centers had lower
injury severity scores compared to other road trauma victims. They accrued
lower hospital charges. They were less likely to rely on Medicaid and
Medicare, and they had about the same level of commercial or private
insurance as other road trauma victims. (University of North Carolina
Highway Safety Research Center, June, 1992)
The average inpatient charge for a helmeted motorcyclist receiving a
brain injury was equal to that of an unhelmeted motorcyclist receiving a
brain injury. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report to
Congress, the CODES Study, 1995)
The average inpatient charge for a helmeted motorcyclist not receiving
a brain injury was approximately $1,000 more than that of an unhelmeted
motorcyclist not receiving a brain injury. (National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration report to Congress, the CODES study, 1995)
Helmet use has no impact on the cost of injury after it has occurred.
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report to Congress, the
CODES study, 1995)
Motorcyclists are no more dependent upon public sources for medical
costs than other motor vehicle operators. (National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration report to Congress, the CODES study, 1995) According to the
Tennessee Department of Health’s own number for the year 2001 18.95% of
the time a Motorcyclist will rely on TennCare Dollars but 21.90% of the
time an Automobile driver or passenger will rely on TennCare.
Motorcyclists rely even less on Medicare dollars. Motorcyclists are
relying less on TennCare and Medicare already then the average motorist.
