Without a properly fitting bicycle helmet, one is much more likely to endure a head trauma or brain injury than is a rider with proper head protection. I’m not saying that every traumatic brain injury caused by a bicycle crash could be prevented with a helmet, but we know from proven research that many of them could. Over 135 deaths, 40,000 head injuries, and 20,000 scalp and face injuries suffered by children between ages 4 and 15 can be reduced through the use of bicycle helmets. And if you’ve been injured in a bike crash — with or without a helmet —. The GHSA recommends a “Three E” approach – engineering, education and enforcement – for bicycle safety. Plus, if you are in a crash and decide to pursue a case against a driver who hit you, a judge or jury may take into account the fact that you were not wearing a helmet as a deciding factor in your negligence that contributed to the crash occurring (even if it’s not against the law to ride without a helmet in your state). Sure, that statistic is impressive, but here’s why preventing a head injury is essential. Some (especially children and teens) say that wearing a helmet makes them look uncool. Inj Prev 2015;21:47–51. There are two sets of tables. Many states and localities have laws in place to force you to wear a bike helmet. Some say they are uncomfortable. The problem is you would get a fine every time you were caught without a helmet if you have legislation. Helmets.org points out that helmet use can lessen the odds of head injury by 50 percent, and the chance of head, neck or facial injury by 33 percent. Fortunately, there are a number of great helmets on the market that are lightweight, stylish, and comfortable. Seventy-eight percent of adult cyclists and 88 percent of young riders who suffered head and neck Being hit by a car is far from the only way to be seriously injured on your bike — plus there is no guarantee that a driver will be cautious with you.. Bicycling head injuries can be avoided by wearing a helmet. Studies have shown that wearing a bike helmet reduces your risk of serious head injury by about 70 percent. And though you can’t safeguard against all injuries in a bike crash, wearing a helmet is your best line … Cycling injuries account for nearly double the amount of traumatic head injuries caused by football every year (85,000 vs 46,000). Most people riding bikes today have heard it again and again: the best way to protect your head is to wear a helmet while biking, and that riding your bike without a helmet is ridiculously dangerous. While half the states in this nation have helmet use laws in the books that apply to young bicyclists, none of these laws apply to all riders. In 2014, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, over 60% of deaths in bicycle crashes were people who were NOT wearing a helmet. In 2016 (the most recent data available). Wearing a helmet may decrease the severity of a head injury by as much as 88 percent. Crashes often happen when you least expect them. Bike Safety for Kids: What Parents Must Know, The Best Ways to Avoid Common Cycling Injuries. A bike helmet is a cyclist’s best line of defense, reducing risk of head injury by more than 50%. Even if you do regain consciousness, you may struggle with cognitive and intellectual difficulties, communication problems, behavioral changes, emotional problems, and even degenerative brain disease. Although no one wants to pay a fine, the real reason to wear a bike helmet is to protect your head. For example, depending on the circumstances, the insu… As you can see, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and even people in cars are more likely to suffer head injury when travelling. Yes, you could still die even when wearing your helmet, but it is far, far less likely than if you weren’t. Educate your children on safe bicycling and have them do it in safe areas. It is not a foolproof safeguard against death or serious injury. As of January 2020, 22 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 201 localities had bicycle helmet-use laws, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute. Although troubling, these symptoms usually go away on their own with rest. That means you may be awarded a smaller settlement or verdict for your injuries, even if you were not otherwise at fault for the crash. Because there is a general expectation in our society that cyclists wear a helmet, if you are ever in a crash in which you are not wearing a helmet, the insurance company (or judge or jury, if you were to take it to court) may put blame on you for not wearing a helmet, even if you did nothing to contribute to the initial collision. Despite the importance of wearing bicycle helmets, in many reported series, less than one-quarter of riders injured in bicycle crashes are reported to have worn helmets, as low as 14% of teenagers in one large study. A meta-analysis of bicycle helmet efficacy by Attewell, Glase, and McFadden (2001) estimated that bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 60% and brain injury by 58%. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also reports that, “helmet use has been estimated to reduce the odds of head injury by 50 percent, and the odds of head, face, or neck injury by 33 percent.”. In addition, wearing a helmet is known to prevent fatalities in motorcycle accidents. In fact, one startling statistic reported by New York City states that 97% of cycling deaths and 87% of serious injuries occurred to people who were not wearing helmets. Some don’t like having their hair squished down on their way to their destination. Both scientific and unscientific research mostly aims to show that biking with a helmet on is much safer. I guarantee these cyclists would like to reverse time and wear that helmet if they could. As a legal matter, it is a good idea to wear a helmet. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Snell Memorial Foundation publish standards by which bicycle helmets can be certified. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also reports that “helmet use has been estimated to reduce the odds of head injury by 50 percent, and the odds of head, face, or neck injury by 33 percent.”. TBI is nothing to take lightly: the effects are devastating and can permanently alter your life. If you don’t like how your helmet looks, or how it makes your hair look, or anything else — it is worth your time to find solutions that work for you instead of skipping the helmet. Depending on the circumstances, this reduction might be across the board, reducing your compensation for medical expenses by 50%, your compensation for lost wages by 50%, your pain and suffering compensation by 50%, etc. These levels of TBI can result in devastating, prolonged and even permanent changes in the level of consciousness. Helmets prevent brain injury. A serious head injury means one thing: traumatic brain injury. Helmets don’t just protect your brain; they also protect your face. 22. Make sure your kids are wearing a properly fitted helmet—and, in the event of injury, make sure they are assessed.” Tips for buying the best bike for you July 29, 2015 04:28 This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In the guide below, we look at how a personal injury solicitor can help you to claim compensation for cycling without a bike helmet if you are injured. If you need more convincing, just look at a few more statistics about bike accidents without helmets: And if you’ve been injured in a bike crash — with or without a helmet — call Bay Area Bicycle Law for a free consultation to see if you’ve got a case. Any time someone raises their voice against mandatory bike helmet laws, it unleashes a torrent of testimonies about traumatic brain injuries of cyclists who crashed without a helmet. Bike accidents without helmets are far more likely to result in death or brain trauma than ones where the cyclist’s head was properly protected. Copyright © 2021 Bay Area Bicycle Law, P.C. Because motorcycles are unenclosed vehicles, riders are vulnerable to being thrown from the bike and suffering head injuries. Helmets are known to reduce brain injuries, and failing to wear a helmet could significantly impact your claim, thus reducing a settlement. The fact is that it is unsafe to engage in this sort of behavior. Concussion is a common injury in cycling, but all too often it’s considered “just concussion”, a fate far better than a broken collarbone or fractured wrist. But without a helmet, you’ll have to work hard to prove that your injury could have happened even with a helmet. With more than 50% of cyclists not wearing helmets, this is not surprising! A bicycle crash can occur anywhere, and a helmet is a protection you cannot afford to be without. Bicycle helmets are made from polystyrene and are designed to protect wearers from falls to the ground at under 12mph. Bike helmets are important for cyclist safety. representing cyclists. “. Due to the current state of COVID - 19: Most consultations can be performed electronically. Truly, the safest bike helmet is the one that you are going to wear. firm to specialize in Life is about calculated risk — nothing is 100 percent safe, and we all take chances each and every day. Because there is a general expectation in our society that cyclists wear a helmet, if you are ever in a crash in which you are not wearing a helmet, the insurance company (or judge or jury, if you were to take it to court) may put blame on you for not wearing a helmet, even if you did nothing to contribute to the initial collision. “riders with helmets also had 31 percent lower odds of facial fractures. Wear helmets. An essential component of education is wearing a properly fitted helmet. Being hit by a car is far from the only way to be seriously injured on your bike — plus there is no guarantee that a driver will be cautious with you.. Just because your helmet isn’t perfect doesn’t mean it can’t do a pretty remarkable job protecting you from death and serious trauma. Although not as likely to die, children and adolescents are the most likely to be injured while riding a bike without a helmet. For example, depending on the circumstances, the insurance company might unilaterally decide that you were 50% at fault in a crash in which you weren’t wearing a helmet, even if you were obeying all traffic laws and the driver was at fault for doing something such as running a red light, thus reducing your compensation by 50%. But statistically, they may not be as crazy as you think, or at least, not more crazy than most other folks on the road not wearing a helmet. 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