The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that more than 80 percent of all reported motorcycle accidents caused injuries or killed the motorcyclist. In fact, the number of fatalities on motorcycles was 26 times that in cars, based upon miles travelled, in 2013.
The NHTSA named head injuries as one of the primary causes of serious and fatal injuries to motorists. A helmet is 37 percent effective in preventing fatalities and 67 percent effective at preventing brain injuries resulting from motorcycle crashes.
For regular riders, these statistics are no surprise. You probably hear about risk of head injury all the time. Hopefully, you wear a helmet. Although not a surefire tool to prevent head injuries, a helmet significantly lowers the risks.
Florida Helmet Law
Florida law allows bikers to, in essence, purchase the right not to wear a helmet. A motorcyclist who is at least 21 years old can forgo a helmet if she or he buys additional insurance for at least $10,000 in medical benefits. Many riders took advantage of this new freedom when the Florida helmet statute was passed in 2000. Prior to that date, Florida’s universal helmet law required all riders to wear helmets.
If you aren’t convinced about the importance of wearing a helmet, consider the statistics in Florida. During the two years following the partial repeal of Florida’s universal helmet law, the fatality rate of motorists over the age of 21 increased by 21 percent. In the same period, fatalities tripled in the 20 and younger rider bracket. Hospitals experienced an 82 percent increase in admissions related to head, brain and skull injuries.
How a Helmet Works
The helmet is a simple, but powerful, piece of equipment consisting of padding for a comfortable fit, a chinstrap to hold the helmet in place, a crushable liner that absorbs impact and a rigid outer shell.
Your body is travelling at a high rate of speed upon crashing your motorcycle. How fast, and how quickly it stops depends upon many factors, including the speed you were travelling and whether you hit a stationary or moving object.
When your head hits the ground or another hard object, the helmet’s hard shell distributes the energy evenly. The energy is mostly absorbed by the foam liner, which breaks apart and keeps the force of impact from reaching your brain. Less damage occurs because less energy reaches your brain.
Anatomy of a Head Injury
Now let’s look at what happens during a crash if your head is not protected by a helmet. With nothing to absorb the impact, your head takes the full force of the fall. The energy is concentrated directly on the brain and causes damage.
Head injuries are not always obvious. In a closed head injury, the brain may suffer serious damage, but no sign becomes outwardly apparent. Nonetheless, the brain damage may be permanent and severely debilitating.
The costs can also be enormous. The medical bills charged to motorcyclists admitted to the hospital with head injuries in Florida more than doubled from $21 in the year preceding repeal of the helmet law to $50 million in the years after.
Maybe that $200 helmet isn’t such a bad investment after all.
Disparti Fowkes & Hasanbasic represents consumers throughout Pasco County and Pinellas County, including residents of Trinity, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson, Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio, St. Petersburg, Seminole, Oldsmar, Treasure Island, Belleair Beach, Clearwater, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Gulfport, Indian Shores, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs, and Largo.