223 East Main Street, Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Schedule A Free Consultation: 843-761-8213

Moncks Corner Legal Issues Blog

How much protection do helmets really offer?

When riding on a motorcycle, it is important to wear a helmet. This is one of the cardinal rules of riding and one that scientists from around the world and from all years and backgrounds generally agree on.

But how much protection do helmets actually provide? Should you rely on them to guarantee your safety whenever you get into dangerous situations?

Helmets do not offer equal protection

The National Library of Medicine talks about the protection helmets offer. First, helmets do not actually offer protection from all forms of injury equally. Instead, one study found that helmets reduced skull fractures up to 69 percent and reduced cerebral contusions by up to 71 percent. On the other hand, intracranial hemorrhaging only saw a 53 percent reduction.

On top of that, some data proved inconclusive as well. For example, data relating to uncomplicated concussion – a common effect of head injury – remained inconclusive even after rounds of testing.

Experts believe this should indicate room for improvement, stating that rotational acceleration management in these helmets should face improvements in order to grow these reduction percentages even further.

Helmets still serve as a crucial defense

That is not to say that helmets do not do their job, however, nor is it to say that motorcyclists should eschew wearing them. In current standards, helmets offer the best possible protection against head injury and damage to the skull and brain. Though room for improvement remains, this is no reason to assume helmets do not protect riders. After all, even a 53 percent rate of reduction will serve a rider better than a 0 percent reduction rate.