Wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the chance of suffering a serious or fatal brain injury, and can significantly decrease the severity of head injuries, if you are in a crash. Bicycle helmets do save lives. But a helmet will not keep you from getting in an accident, does not protect you from injuries except for head injuries, and studies have found that it may make drivers less careful around you. Some studies have found that wearing a helmet leads to riskier behavior, while others have found that wearing a helmet is associated with safer behavior. Bottom line? Wear your helmet, but ride like you have no protection. If you have been injured in a Miami and Ft. Lauderdale area bicycle crash, talk to an experienced bicycle accident attorney today.
Bike Helmets Offer Real Protection
A bicycle helmet won’t protect you from crashing, but it can minimize injuries to your head and face in the event of a crash. A study published in the American Journal of Surgery looked at patients who had suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) in bicycle crashes and found that helmet use:
- Reduced the odds of dying from TBI by 44%
- Reduced the odds of suffering severe TBI by 51%
- Reduced the odds of suffering facial fractures by 31%
A Helmet Does Not Make You Invincible
You’ll notice that in the study mentioned above, researchers were looking at patients who had sustained brain injuries in bicycle crashes. About 25% of those brain-injured riders were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. You can still crash, you can still suffer brain injuries, and you can still die from your injuries, including injuries to other parts of your body, when wearing a helmet.
Unfortunately, some riders are prone to take more chances when wearing a helmet. And, studies have found that drivers give helmeted riders less room when passing. Does that mean you should stop wearing your helmet? No. It only highlights the fact that wearing a helmet is no excuse to ignore basic bicycling safety.
To learn more about your rights after a Florida bicycle accident, call the Law Offices of Lee P. Marks, P.A., at 305-444-3343 or contact us online today and schedule your free consultation.
