California Senator Proposes Helmet Law for Snow Sports
Last week, Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) introduced a bill that would require minors under the age of 18 to wear a helmet while skiing or snowboarding. Similar to California’s bicycle helmet law, parents of minors will be fined no more than $25 if their children are not wearing helmets. The California Ski Industry Administration, an organization that represents ski resort operators in California and Nevada, is in support of the bill.
“California’s ski slopes are perhaps the last area of recreation where we do not have basic safety standards in place for children,” said Yee. “Despite repeated warnings from public health experts, professional athletes, and ski resorts, each winter brings news of hundreds of unnecessary tragedies for the failure to wear a helmet. With this legislation, we can significantly reduce instances of traumatic brain injury or death for such a vulnerable population.”
Half of all skiing deaths are a result of head injuries. Helmets reduce the incidence of traumatic brain or head injuries by 29 to 56 percent. According to the Federal Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 7,000 head injuries that occur on U.S. ski slopes may be reduced in severity by helmets. Fifty-three percent of ski or snowboard related head injuries in children under 15-years-old are addressable by the use of a helmet.
If you or a loved one has suffered a head or brain injury because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recoup compensation. The Northridge personal injury attorneys at the Mandell Law Firm have experience in dealing with head, brain and spinal cord injury and offer hands-on care and commitment to victims. Call today at (818) 886-6600 for a free and confidential consultation.
