Does your child wear a helmet every time they get on their bike? Sometimes wearing a helmet can be overlooked for a variety of reasons: for children, it may be due to forgetfulness, not enforced by parents, and for teenagers, a helmet clashes with their sense of style. Whatever the reason may be, spending that extra couple of minutes to click on a helmet is more important than you may think.
Almost 1,000 bike riders are killed each year in the U.S., the majority caused by collisions with cars. 75% of these deaths are due to head injuries. Injuries resulting from bike and car collisions number more than 120,000 annually with head injuries being the most prevalent. Long-term head injuries are not only scary but can be expensive; the cost for children’s treatment can last the span of their lifetime. This is especially concerning to know since wearing a helmet reduces the risk of injury by 85%.
When searching for the right helmet for yourself or your child, the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute teaches:
- Helmets should sit level on your head and be securely fastened by the strap under your chin
- Helmets must meet U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards and contains a sticker showing it has met these standards
- More expensive does not equal better quality, discounted helmets are just as safe as long as it contains the CPSC sticker and fits securely
Wearing a helmet is a quick step to ensure your child’s safety on their bike ride to school. Sometimes accidents occur no matter how prepared you are. If your child has sustained injuries from a faulty helmet, please contact The Gilbert Law Group®, located in the Denver, Colorado area at (303) 431-1111 to discuss your case.