TY  - JOUR
T1  - THe public cost of motorcycle trauma
AU  - Dobson JL
Y1  - 1989/02/24
N1  - 10.1001/jama.1989.03420080063019
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 1149
EP  - 1149
VL  - 261
IS  - 8
N2  - To the Editor. — 
    It comes as no surprise that society pays for the majority of health care for injured motorcyclists.1I am surprised, however, that Rivara et al1 jump to the conclusion that their data support mandatory helmet laws. As stated by the authors, no comparison of helmeted vs nonhelmeted motorcyclists was made in their study. Their conclusion is supported only by reference to a study that dealt with fatalities, not costs.Some people theorize that helmet laws result in greater overall cost to society because individuals who otherwise would have been killed survive with severe permanent disabilities. I was hoping that Rivara et al would address this sobering question.
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.1989.03420080063019
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1989.03420080063019
ER  -