After midnight one night in March 2025, Ronald Arnaud was riding his motorcycle on Louisiana Highway 45 in Marrero. For reasons that are still under investigation, he drove off the road and landed in a ditch, sustaining severe head injuries. Rescuers transported him to a hospital, where he died a short time later. He was 51 years old. Arnaud was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. As of the most recently published reports, reporters did not know whether he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs during his fatal ride. Motorcycles offer little protection against the elements, and a small mistake, or even adverse weather conditions that would not faze a car, can lead to disaster for motorcyclists. Even if you were the only person on your motorcycle and the object you struck was not another vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation from parties that contributed to the accident or were responsible for preventing it. If you suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident, contact a Houma car accident lawyer.
The Movement to Turn Louisiana Into a Helmet-Optional State
Louisiana is famous for its lenient laws related to the purchase and consumption of alcohol, but when it comes to motorcycle helmets, the Bayou State does not mess around. Louisiana law requires all motorcyclists to wear helmets, whether they are in the driver’s seat or riding on the back of the bike as a passenger. According to the Law Tigers website, wearing a motorcycle helmet reduces the risk of dying in a collision by 37%. Among motorcyclists who survive their accidents, wearing a helmet reduces the risk of severe traumatic brain injury by 67%.
Despite this, Louisiana lawmakers attempted last year to change the motorcycle helmet laws. The proposed law would have required motorcycle helmets only for motorcyclists under the age of 21. The rationale was that, by making the motorcycle helmet laws more lenient, Louisiana could attract more tourists from states where motorcyclists are accustomed to riding without a helmet. Opponents of the law argued that all the helmetless riders who sustained severe injuries would suffer financial catastrophe themselves, even if they had health insurance, and that their absence from Louisiana’s workforce and dependence on disability benefits would be financially stressful for the state.
As of July 2025, “motorcycle helmets for all” is still the rule on the books in Louisiana. If you get injured in a motorcycle accident when you are not wearing a helmet, this could limit the amount of compensation you can recover. Under Louisiana laws, people who are partially at fault for accidents can sue for damages, but the courts reduce their damages awards proportionally to the injured plaintiff’s share of fault.
Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey About Personal Injury Cases
A personal injury lawyer can help you if you were injured while riding a motorcycle and not wearing a helmet. Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey in Houma, Louisiana, to set up a consultation about your case.
(985) 313-9791
