Motorcycle Helmet Facts and Fiction

Although the state of Wisconsin does not require adult motorcyclists to wear a protective helmet, the United States Department of Transportation and numerous other entities strongly recommend ­helmet use as one of the best ways to protect a rider's welfare in the event of an accident. Today's motorcycle helmets are engineered with the benefit of decades of research and the refinement of materials and methods. Despite these advances, there are many accidents which are too severe for a helmet to completely eliminate all injury risks. When a motorcycle wreck is caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver, manufacturer, or other entity then it might be in the best interests of an injured biker to pursue a civil lawsuit.
The rate of traumatic brain injuries and fatalities in motorcycle crashes is much lower for riders who were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident than for those who were not. Since the effects of a traumatic brain injury can be physically, mentally, and financially devastating, it should be readily apparent that it is wiser to limit the prospects of such an injury by wearing a protective helmet. Some riders remain unconvinced about the benefits of helmets, so it may be necessary to take a closer look at some motorcycle helmet facts and fiction.
Truths and Myths
Part of the reason that some riders are clinging to anti-helmet sentiments is that they are still considering the motorcycle helmets that were available in the past. Helmets today are safer and more comfortable than ever. Some commonly held myths about helmets are that they:

• Causes neck fractures in the event of an accident
• Impair a rider's sight and limit his or her field of vision
• Adversely affect a rider's ability to hear the surrounding traffic

Some motorcyclists cite the above as the basis for their reluctance to wear a helmet, but a helmet can immediately increase a rider's comfort level and offer protection from things other than the impact of a collision. A few of these benefits include:

• Reduction of wind noise which can be deafening if unchecked
• Blocking the gale force winds that directly assault your face and eyes
• Fends off insects and any flying debris such as gravel
• Offers relief from adverse weather conditions

By Joseph Devine

A Motorcycle Helmet Can Save Your Life By Nathan B George

Everyone knows that when you hop on a motorcycle, you risk life and limb, but not always in that order. It's easy to forgo safety when you know what you are doing is characteristically unsafe. "What's the use?" someone might ask, but just because you are taking a risk, doesn't mean you should expose yourself to unnecessary danger. Yes, riding a motorcycle is hazardous, but so is driving a car, playing sports and even walking down stairs. What matters most is the steps you take to minimize your risk. When you walk down the stairs, you hold on to the railing. When you drive a car, you put on a seatbelt. When you hop on a motorcycle, you need to WEAR A HELMET!
It is mind boggling to see motorcyclists cruising down the expressway, weaving in an out of traffic with their bare noggin exposed to the world. It's as if the thought of instant death or paralysis has never crossed their mind. If you fall off a motorcycle, bottom line, you will get hurt. However, there is a stark difference between being injured and losing your life, and the right helmet makes all the difference.
By not wearing a helmet you are asking a die. The right protective gear lowers your chances of death or serious brain injury dramatically. You might think you are a safe rider, that you have your hog under control. So did my dad.
Every summer my dad would take us to the Jersey shore, and everyday he would wake up early and take his 1975 Triumph Trident out for a cruise along the beach. As my dad was stopped at a red light, a woman on a car-phone rear ended him and sent him flying forty feet in the air. He landed on the pavement and broke a majority of his ribs, his pelvis, and a few vertebrae. As far as his head went, the helmet he was wearing absorbed most of the impact. The doctor later told him that if he weren't wearing a helmet they would have had to scoop his brains off the side of the road. That helmet saved my dad's life, and I am lucky he was wearing one. A minor accident on a motorcycle can quickly become a tragedy when a helmet isn't worn.
By Nathan B George