Bike Safely, Wear a Helmet!

By Kelly Balamuth on September 12, 2011

Northern California’s climate is favorable to bicyclists year round, but the warmer months see large increases in the number of riders on the road. Tragically, every year many cyclists accidents kill many cyclists and sent over a half a million to hospital emergency rooms for treatment. Recent studies show that nearly two-thirds of fatalities and one-third of all bike accident injuries involved trauma to the face or head. Helmets may decrease the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. Even so, only around 50 percent of cyclists wear them.

Helmets protect the head by absorbing the energy of an impact to minimize or prevent head injuries. Riders should pick a helmet that fits snugly but comfortably on the rider’s head. The helmet should always be worn level on the forehead, not tilted back, forward or loose. A loose or improperly positioned helmet may fly off or shift and do nothing to protect the head in the event of an accident. Most helmets include a tightening back strap as well as customizable padding to make the fit personal to the user. When a parent is buying a helmet for a child, it’s important the child is present to try it on and to make sure it fits properly.

For adequate protection, the helmet must also be equipped with a chin strap and buckle that will stay firmly fastened. The strap should be totally fixed; no mixture of pulling or wriggling should remove the helmet or unfasten the strap.

If you’ve been injured in a Northern California bicycle accident that you think was caused another party’s negligence or recklessness, contact the Northern California auto accident attorneys at Balamuth Harrington. Call 1-888-254-1234 for a free review of your case today.