Use Your Brain—Wear a Helmet

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. But that’s exactly what you may be doing if you ride a bicycle without wearing a helmet. Reports indicate that wearing a helmet reduces the chance of head injury by up to 85 percent, a vital stat when you consider that most deaths related to bicycle falls and collisions involve head injuries. Even a low-speed fall can scramble your brain.

Helmets work by reducing the energy of a sharp impact. They are constructed with a layer of stiff foam—crushable expanded polystyrene (EPS)—the material used in white picnic coolers. The thin shell covering the EPS helps the helmet skid on rough pavement, thus reducing the jerking movements of the neck.

Just one accident—even a minor one—is enough to damage the helmet. Unlike other types of helmets, bicycle helmets are designed to sustain only one impact. Replace your helmet after an accident or a fall. An undamaged helmet should be replaced every two years

When choosing a helmet, make sure it has a seal of approval from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation

Helmets come in various sizes; pick one that fits your head properly. When it comes to children, buy a helmet that fits; don’t buy one for your child to grow into. Also remember that children will outgrow the helmet. If it doesn’t fit correctly, replace it.

The helmet should fit snuggly, with the chin strap secured tightly. It should be positioned horizontally on the head; not tipped backward or forward.

“When it comes to helmets, bicyclists need to be careful not to be lulled into a false sense of security,” says Howard Krepack, avid cyclist and partner in the law firm of Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Grant, Felton & Goldstein. “Wearing a helmet does not prevent crashes. Cyclists also need to learn the traffic laws and safe riding practices.”

Some risk experts contend that wearing a helmet may create a “daredevil effect” in which riders feel so safe that they ride faster and take more chances. This concept of risk compensation has been studied in relation to such safety features as seatbelts, bicycle helmets and antilock braking systems.

When it came to anti-lock brakes, three studies showed that the driver compensated for the feeling of reduced risk by driving faster. However, a study published in an issue of Accident Analysis & Prevention stated that motorists drove closer to cyclists who were wearing helmets. This research implies that in this case, motorists compensated for the risk, not bicyclists.

“Whether it’s the motorist or the bicyclist who’s not sharing the road responsibly, the bottom line is that a bicyclist involved in an accident has a much better chance of avoiding major brain injury if he or she is wearing a helmet. I have been practicing personal injury law for 30 years and have seen many people who have suffered catastrophic injuries—loss of limbs, paralysis…. But if you lose your ability to think as is the case with many serious brain injuries, it’s all over. It makes no sense to take that risk. Wearing a helmet, and making your kids wear a helmet, on every ride can mean the difference between life and death.”

(The law firm of Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Grant, Felton & Goldstein is dedicated to protecting the rights of those who have suffered serious injuries on or off the job. Partner Howard Krepack leads the firm’s bicycle accident practice. For more information about our firm, call us at 213-739-7000.)