Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog
Earlier this month, researchers from the University of Arizona at Tucson released a study they conducted regarding helmet use and its effects on bicycle injuries. As the reader may expect, helmets do prevent injury if they are worn by a rider involved in an accident. However, this study looked a bit deeper.
The idea of the study was to determine if wearing a helmet somehow helped those who did suffer a traumatic brain injury. In other words, it is well known that a helmet can reduce the chance of getting severely injured in a bicycle accident, but of those who are severely injured, did the group of those who were wearing helmets fare any better than those who were not?
The Study
The study looked at 6,267 bicycle accidents that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. Of those, roughly 25% of the riders were wearing their helmets. The results of the study indicated that of those who were involved in a bicycle accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury, those wearing a helmet at the time were 58% less likely to sustain a “serious” brain injury, and 59% less likely to die as a result of their brain injury.
The study also concluded that the age group least likely to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle were those aged 10-20. In fact, the percentage of helmet use increases with each decade of age, until the age of 70, when helmet use begins to decrease.
Of course, a helmet can only do so much to prevent an injury.
Serious or Fatal Bicycle Accidents
No matter how many precautions are taken, a bicyclist may still become the innocent victim of a serious or fatal accident. While wearing a helmet may help reduce any long-term effect of being involved in the accident, many of the effects of a traumatic brain injury may not surface until months or years after the injury.
Therefore, it is very important that anyone who was seriously injured in a bicycle or motorcycle accident seek appropriate medical care immediately after the accident. Additionally, it is important to consult with a dedicated motorcycle accident attorney to assess whether the rider may be entitled to monetary compensation for all they have endured.
Have You Been Involved in a Serious Motorcycle or Bicycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious or fatal bicycle or motorcycle accident in the State of Maryland, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Whether or not you were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident should not play a role in whether you are able to recover compensation, but the driver may attempt to convince the court that it does. Make sure that you are treated fairly throughout the trial process, and call the Maryland-based personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers at 410-654-3600 to set up a free consultation. Calling is free and will not result in any obligation on your part.
More Blog Posts:
Former Episcopal Bishop in Baltimore Pleads Guilty to Automotive Manslaughter and Other Related Charges, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published October 7, 2015.
Former Navy Seal Killed in Bethesda Bicycle Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 18, 2015.