Do Bicycle Helmets Prevent Head Injury?

Yes, bicycle helmets are designed to prevent or reduce the risk of head injuries when cycling. They are specifically designed to protect your head in the event of a fall or collision while riding a bicycle. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Impact Protection: Bicycle helmets are constructed with a hard outer shell and a foam liner designed to absorb and dissipate the force of an impact. In the event of a crash, the helmet helps to cushion the blow and reduce the likelihood of a direct impact to the skull.
2. Reduced Severity of Injuries: Research has shown that wearing a helmet can significantly reduce the severity of head injuries in the event of a bicycle accident. This includes reducing the risk of traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, and scalp lacerations.
3. Legal Requirements: Georgia bicycle helmet laws require bicyclists younger than 16 to wear a helmet. However, wearing a government-certified helmet could help you with your bicycle accident claim if you are ever injured. These laws are put in place to promote safety and reduce the risk of head injuries in bicycle accidents.
4. Safety Awareness: Helmets also serve as a visible reminder to cyclists and others about the importance of safety while riding. When people see others wearing helmets, it can promote a culture of safety and encourage more cyclists to use protective headgear.

Head Injuries From Bicycle Accidents

Since people are not thoroughly protected while using bicycles, they can often suffer extreme injuries when in a collision with a motor vehicle. For example, they are often thrown over their handlebars during an impact with a motor vehicle which sometimes result in the bicyclist landing on their head and becoming injured. Determining the severity of a head or brain injury can depend on the type of impact, speed, and if the cyclist wore any type of protection.

Some head injuries that occur in bicycle crashes include:

• Bumps and bruises
• Gashes
• Concussions
• Fractures of the skull
• Traumatic brain injury

While some head injuries can be minor, others can be very serious and cause lifelong problems for the injured cyclists. 

Long-term problems can include:

• Loss of bodily function
• Memory, speech, and behavioral problems
• Brain damage
• Loss of memory
• Permanent disabilities

Unfortunately, a bicyclist involved in a crash has a great possibility of suffering a brain injury. When a cyclist experiences this type of injury, they could face severe symptoms. In fact, the most serious injuries bicyclists suffer from are head injuries.  While some cyclists can recover from head trauma, others may have to accommodate lifelong issues.

Head and brain injuries are more likely to occur in situations in which bicyclists are not wearing helmets. However, bicycle helmets have been proven to help prevent head injuries in the event of a bicycle accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2009, 91% of bicyclists killed were not wearing a helmet. This is why it is critical for every child, as well as adult, to wear a bicycle helmet.

Other information from the National Injury Prevention Foundation regarding bicycle helmet safety and brain injury prevention includes:

• Helmets help prevent an injury every 4 minutes
• Bicycle helmets can prevent 85–88 % of critical brain injuries
• Helmets can help prevent 75% of bicycle fatalities among children
• Non-helmeted bicyclists are about 14 times more likely to die in an accident than helmeted cyclists

Whether you have lost a loved one or have suffered a brain injury yourself we may be able to help you recover financially for your injuries, losses, and damages. 

Contact Shane Smith Law to speak with a knowledgeable attorney today at (980) 246-2656. We provide complimentary initial consultations.