Bicycle Helmets and Traumatic Brain Injury
Bicycle crashes are a common cause of head injury and death. Studies show that wearing a bicycle helmet significantly reduces the severity of traumatic brain injury, and results in fewer deaths.
Here are some statistics regarding bicycle helmets and traumatic brain injury:
The typical bicyclist killed on the road is a sober male over the age of 16, not wearing a helmet.
About 540,000 bicyclists are taken to the emergency room with injuries every year. Approximately 67,000 of those injuries are brain injuries. About 27,000 of those brain injuries are severe enough to require hospitalization.
While percentages vary according to the source, all sources agree that a high percentage – as much as 88 percent – of cyclists’ brain injuries can be prevented by an approved helmet.