Our brains control every move we make and every word we speak, yet they're housed in incredibly fragile containers. Bicycle helmets are designed to protect those containers and their invaluable contents.
By law, every California bicyclist under 18 years of age must wear a helmet while bicycling. The helmet must meet the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Material or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
While some bicyclists, both kids and adults, might find helmets to be inconvenient, it's very likely they haven't considered how inconvenient life can be after a traumatic brain injury or other serious head injury as a result of a crash with a motor vehicle.
Tragic Lessons
Residents of Azusza are launching an effort to get more kids, parents and others to recognize the importance of bike helmets. In early May, an 8-year-old boy was hit by a car while he was riding his bike without a helmet. He was hospitalized in critical condition.
Two years ago, an 11-year-old boy was killed while riding his bicycle in a crosswalk. He too was not wearing a helmet.
Hard Truth About Safety
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put together some eye-opening statistics on bicycle safety:
- In 2008, 716 bicyclists were killed in the U.S., representing two percent of all traffic fatalities
- One-seventh of those killed were between five and 15 years of age
- 52,000 bicyclists were injured in 2008; up dramatically from 43,000 a year earlier
- Fatal crashes tend to happen in urban areas (69 percent) and at intersections (64 percent)
Never Drink and Ride
In far too many cases, bicycle crashes involve car drivers or bicyclists who have consumed alcohol before getting on the road: 37 percent of fatal accidents involve alcohol (23 percent of the bicyclists killed had blood alcohol levels over the legal limit of 0.08).
If you have a child, make sure they wear a helmet whenever they ride their bicycle (or skateboard, scooter or skates). It's not only the safest way to go, it's the law. Kids get off with a warning for the first violation of the bicycle helmet law; subsequent violations bring fines of $25.
If you or your child has been injured in an accident while riding a bicycle, speak to a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights and options. If the accident victim was not wearing a helmet, the outcome of your claim may be affected. Please consult with a lawyer to learn more.
