How a Helmet Can Save Your Life in a Bicycle Accident

How a Helmet Can Save Your Life in a Bicycle Accident

bicycle helmetWhether you ride a bicycle for leisure or sport, a helmet is an essential piece of safety gear you cannot ignore. Besides preventing traumatic brain injuries, wearing one will also make you more visible on the road so you can avoid a bicycle accident.

How Bicycle Helmets Work

A bike helmet has a hard outer shell and a soft lining inside. The former protects the head if you fall by spreading the impact area and thus, prevents head injuries. The smooth outer shell allows the head to slide across the impact surface without making the neck jerk. The soft lining limits the impact by absorbing the force of the accident. Both work together to reduce the impact on your head, which may otherwise lead to a fractured skull, brain bleed, or worse.

How to Choose A Bicycle Helmet

Experienced Antioch bicycle accident lawyers will tell you that your helmet choice should depend on its specific use. For instance, a BMX cyclist will have a sturdier helmet than one who rides their bicycle for leisure on the road. Whether you are the former or the latter, follow these general tips as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to choose a suitable helmet:

  • Make sure the helmet fits snugly over your head. There should not be any spaces between the foam and your head inside. Get a looser one if the helmet squeezes your head like a vice. A tight fit will cause headaches, increasing your chances of getting into an accident.
  • The helmet size can differ between manufacturers. So whether you know your size or not, always try one on before buying it.
  • Check the recall date on each helmet beforehand. If it has the US Product Safety Commission (CPSC) label, that means it passed federal safety standards and crash tests successfully.

When Should You Replace a Bike Helmet

If you are involved in a bike crash, get a new helmet afterward, even if your existing one looks undamaged. Hidden damage such as compressed foam or cracks can compromise its structural integrity to the point that it won’t be able to protect your head later. For the same reason, never buy a second-hand helmet from friends, online, or any place for that matter. You don’t know what it has been through and the damages it may have sustained under someone else’s ownership.

Contact Robert Edens for a Consultation Regarding a Bicycle Accident

If you or someone you know has been injured in a bike accident, you need Antioch bicycle accident lawyers to get the compensation you deserve. At the Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, we understand how insurance companies work and the aggressive tactics they can use to reduce your claim. We are not afraid to get equally aggressive if you are not compensated for damages and medical bills. Our lawyers have more than 20 years of experience representing victims such as you and have a successful track record to show for it. Get in touch with us for a consultation today.

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