Helmet Use to Avoid Head Injury in a Bicycle Accident

Information on San Diego Cycling

People who love San Diego cycling reap the benefits of exercise and low-cost transportation.  However, these benefits come with a cost. Avoiding a San Diego cycling accident and taking the proper precautions to protect yourself can help ensure that a pleasant ride does not end with a trip to the hospital.

In terms of protection, and certainly for avoiding head injury, the single most important piece of gear  for a cyclist is a helmet.  Anyone who rides a lot knows the discomfort of road rash after a spill. However, head injuries can be extremely serious. It is a matter of protecting your life.

How to Properly Fit a Bike Helmet

The most important factor in ensuring that your helmet prevents head injury is fit. Your helmet must be able to hold its position on your head in the event of impact.

Different brands of helmets have different sizing methods, so the best way to check the fit is to try the helmet on. Your bike helmet should feel snug but not too tight on your head. If the helmet sits too high around the top of your head and squeezes to the point of discomfort, the helmet is too small.

Take both of your hands and place them on top of the helmet.  Push around in a circular pattern to emulate different directions pressure comes from. Your helmet should hold its position on your head with minimal movement.

Also, make sure you adjust the straps properly. They should hold the helmet square on your head and be snug—but not tight—around your chin. If your helmet tilts to one side or the other, it may not protect your head with impacts coming from certain directions.

The amount of space between your ears and the bottom of your helmet should be the same on both sides.

You Must Wear Your Helmet for it to Work

If you are involved in a San Diego bicycle accident, your helmet will not prevent a head injury sitting on a shelf in the garage.

One of the biggest mistakes people make with helmets is not wearing them. You never know when an accident may occur, so the only safe bet is to always wear your helmet. Often, it is that short trip to the store or around the block—when people feel they do not need a helmet—that the unexpected accident occurs.

Teach children to get in the habit of always wearing a helmet by doing so yourself.  California law requires children under 18 to wear a helmet.

San Diego bike accident attorney Frederick M. Dudek is an avid cyclist who enjoys commuting to his law office on his bike. If you need information about a San Diego bike accident involving head injury, contact him to schedule a free consultation.