Bicyclists - Don't Forget Your Helmets

Bicycle Accidents - Wearing your helmet still makes sense

Madison bicyclists may be taking unnecessary risks with their lives by not wearing helmets while riding, according to a recent story in the weekly paper Isthmus. With the discovery that wearing a bicycle helmet may actually draw cars toward a bike or make the car drivers be less careful around bikes, the drop in helmet use might sound at least a little bit sensible. However, the fact remains that wearing a helmet can reduce the chances of severe injury in a bicycle accident, as the Isthmus story pointed out. The smaller number of cyclists wearing helmets, then, means the potential for injury, disability, and death increases.
Every Bit Counts
Helmets aren't magical devices. They protect your head if you end up being thrown off balance, and while they can't prevent injury completely, they can reduce the chances of a severe injury by up to 70 percent. In other words, you might end up with bruises and bumps, but you may still be able to resume your regular life with no brain injury, whereas going through the same accident while not wearing a helmet could put you into a coma.
You also have to realize that your decision not to wear a helmet has effects on others around you. For example, if you crash into a car (car-bike accidents are not always the car driver's fault) and sustain a major head injury, the psychological effect on the driver can be profound.
Fit Matters, Too
When you decide to wear a helmet when cycling, you improve your chances of staying safer on the road, but how you wear the helmet affects that as well. You don't gain much advantage if you wear the helmet incorrectly. For example, helmets should be flat on top of your head, and the straps should fit properly around -- not over or on -- your ears. 
If you have been in an accident as a cyclist or involving a cyclist and need legal help, contact Eisenberg Law Offices. Speak with an attorney to increase your chances of having a satisfactory outcome for your case.
This post was originally published at https://www.eisenberglaw.org/bicyclists-dont-forget-your-helmets/