Do Helmets Prevent Head Injury?

Helmets are safety gear that can be found in most Colorado homes. Skiing down powdery slopes, tackling the Rockies on a mountain bike, long-distance cycling along scenic highways, taking to the football field or hockey rink, and cruising scenic byways on a motorcycle make wearing helmets a nearly everyday necessity for many of us.

But how effectively do helmets prevent head injury such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, or other head trauma?

Fuicelli & Lee Injury Lawyers is a firm committed to helping brain injury survivors, so the questions surrounding helmet safety aren’t just academic to us; they’re deeply personal. Our founding partner, Keith Fuicelli, sits on the board of the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado after fully overcoming a catastrophic injury years ago.

We remain committed to this organization and to helping survivors of traumatic brain injury with the legal help, information, and resources they need to recover and build a better future.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, even while wearing a helmet, it’s important to consult a skilled brain injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today!

Bicycle Helmets

Bicycle helmets can substantially protect riders. A comprehensive study found that wearing a bicycle helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 48%, the risk of serious head injury by 60%, and the risk of traumatic brain injury by 53%. The same study found that the overall number of killed or seriously injured cyclists decreases by 34% with helmet use.

Motorcycle Helmets

Motorcycle helmets are 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle riders and 67% effective in preventing brain injuries. Studies have shown that unhelmeted motorcyclists are three times more likely to suffer brain injuries than those wearing helmets.

Ski and Snowboard Helmets

Ski and snowboard helmets provide substantial protection for winter sports enthusiasts. Research indicates that ski helmets reduce the risk of any head injury by 35% and decrease the risk of head contact injuries by 53%. The protective effect is even more pronounced for children under 13, with ski helmets reducing the risk of head injury by 59% in this age group.

Football Helmets

Modern football helmets have improved player safety in recent years, but serious brain injuries remain an enormous risk in this hard-hitting contact sport. Compared to older helmet models, contemporary designs reduce the risk of concussion by 20% and the risk of skull fracture by up to 60-70%.

Hockey Helmets

Hockey helmets provide substantial protection from scalp lacerations, intracranial hemorrhages, and cranial fractures, but like all helmets, they face inherent limitations when it comes to eliminating concussions. Hockey helmets and face masks reduce head and face injuries in ice hockey by 65%.

The Mechanics of Helmet Protection

One big takeaway from all of the helmet research is that helmets offer some protection against brain injuries, but no helmet offers complete protection. Can that change? Can helmets offer better protection?

Researchers and engineers are always working to narrow the gap between partial protection.

To do this, they usually focus on the four main components that form a helmet:

1. Outer shell: A hard plastic layer that distributes impact force over a larger area
2. Impact-absorbing liner: Usually made of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) that compresses on impact to absorb shock
3. Comfort padding: Soft foam and fabric that ensures a snug fit
4. Retention system: Straps and buckles that keep the helmet in place during an impact

When you hit your head on a hard surface while wearing a helmet, the outer shell first spreads the force of impact over a larger area. Then, the EPS liner compresses, absorbing much of the impact energy that would otherwise be transferred to the skull and brain.

Can Helmets Eliminate Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Barring inferior, inadequate, and defective helmets, the biggest constraints against providing full brain protection are the human body and accidents caused by someone else’s negligence or misconduct.

Incidents that cause traumatic brain injuries, whether they’re car accidents or tackles on the football field, are often violent enough to rattle the brain inside the skull no matter what external protection is used.

We can protect our brains a great deal by wearing helmets when necessary, but we can never prevent injury from another party’s actions.

Are Concussions Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Concussions and TBIs are often misunderstood, partly due to the complexity of brain injury diagnosis and the limitations of traditional classification systems. To clarify, concussions are indeed a form of traumatic brain injury, typically categorized as mild TBIs. However, the misleading term mild doesn’t necessarily reflect the potential long-term impact of the injury.

Historically, medical professionals have categorized TBIs as mild, moderate, or severe based on initial symptoms, often using tools like the Glasgow Coma Scale.

However, this classification system has significant limitations:

• It only reflects the immediate presentation of symptoms, not long-term outcomes.
• The terms can be misleading, potentially trivializing injuries that may have serious, lasting effects.
• There’s often a disconnect between the initial diagnosis and the prognosis for recovery.

For instance, a person diagnosed with a “mild” TBI or concussion might experience symptoms that persist for years, such as post-concussion syndrome, or even worsen over time. Conversely, some people initially diagnosed with a “severe” TBI could make a full recovery. The unpredictability underscores the complex nature of brain injuries and the need for careful, individualized assessment and treatment.

By adopting this more comprehensive view, we can better recognize the nature of TBIs and work to ensure that individuals receive appropriate care and support, regardless of their initial diagnosis.

A Closer Look at the Limits of Helmet Protection

Helmets undoubtedly play a critical role in reducing the risk of head injuries, but they are not an infallible shield against all types of trauma. Even when wearing a helmet, individuals can still sustain head injuries, particularly in high-impact scenarios or when the protective gear is damaged, defective, or inadequate.

Recognizing the limitations of helmets highlights the need for ongoing research and development in helmet technology.

Extreme Forces and Design Limitations

Helmets are engineered to absorb and dissipate a certain amount of impact energy. However, in cases of extreme force, such as high-speed collisions or severe impacts, the energy involved may exceed the helmet’s design capabilities.

In these situations, while the helmet may still reduce the severity of the injury, it may not be able to prevent injury altogether.

For instance, a study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery found that while football helmets reduce the risk of skull fracture and severe traumatic brain injury, they are far less effective at preventing concussions, especially those resulting from high-velocity impacts.

Outdated or Damaged Helmets

Helmet materials can degrade over time, and some helmets may not meet safety standards. Additionally, a helmet involved in a previous impact may have unseen structural damage that compromises its protective capabilities.

The Snell Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization that creates standards for helmet safety, recommends replacing helmets every five years or sooner after an impact or if they show signs of damage.

Rotational Forces and Concussion Risk

Traditional helmet designs have focused primarily on absorbing linear impact forces. However, many head injuries, particularly concussions, result from rotational forces that cause the brain to twist or rotate within the skull. These rotational forces can lead to shearing of brain tissue and are a major cause of concussions.

Defective Helmets: A Hidden Danger

While properly manufactured helmets protect against brain injuries, defective helmets can pose serious risks to users who rely on them. Understanding the issue of defective helmets, including recalls and legal actions, is essential for consumers and safety advocates alike.

Helmet Recalls and Consumer Safety

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) monitors products on the U.S. market and orders safety recalls of those products when they are found to be defective. According to CPSC data, there were 12 helmet safety recalls between 2010 and 2020, affecting approximately 248,000 units.

These recalls involved various issues, including:

1. Failure to meet impact protection standards
2. Faulty chin straps that could cause the helmet to come off during impact
3. Inadequate retention systems

A look at past helmet recalls reveals some of the flaws that can compromise a user’s safety:

• Design defects: Defective designs make a helmet fundamentally flawed. For example, a helmet might be designed with insufficient impact-absorbing material, or the shape might not adequately cover vulnerable areas of the head. Design defects affect entire product lines and can lead to widespread safety issues.
• Manufacturing flaws: These defects happen during the production process. They might include using substandard materials, improper assembly of components, or inconsistencies in the manufacturing process that lead to structural weaknesses. For instance, a chin strap might be improperly attached, or the helmet shell might have microscopic cracks from the molding process.
• Material defects: Sometimes, the materials used in helmet construction can be defective. This could involve using foam that doesn’t provide adequate shock absorption, shells that are too brittle and prone to cracking, or straps made from material that degrades too quickly.
• Quality control failures: Even if the design and materials are sound, quality control failures can allow defective helmets to reach consumers. This might involve inadequate testing procedures or oversight in identifying and removing faulty products from the production line.
• Labeling and instructions: In some cases, the defect lies not in the physical helmet but in the accompanying information. Inadequate warnings about the helmet’s limitations, unclear fitting instructions, or missing information about when to replace the helmet can all lead to improper use and increased risk of injury.

Any of these can, and have, resulted in scenarios where the helmet fails to provide expected protection: it might crack or shatter upon impact, come off during an accident due to strap failure, or not absorb enough impact force to prevent brain injury.

These potential defects underscore the need for rigorous and evolving safety standards, thorough testing, and ongoing vigilance by both manufacturers and consumers.

Given the potential risks associated with defective helmets, consumers should:

1. Regularly check for recalls on the CPSC website (www.cpsc.gov)
2. Register their helmet with the manufacturer to receive recall notifications
3. Inspect helmets regularly for signs of excessive wear, damage, or defect
4. Replace helmets after any significant impact, even if no visible damage is apparent

The Ongoing Challenge of Helmet Safety

Despite improvements in helmet design and safety standards, the challenge of creating a helmet that can more adequately prevent concussions remains. Helmets are highly effective at preventing skull fractures and severe brain injuries, yet their ability to prevent concussions is limited due to the complex nature of brain movement within the skull.

Recent innovations, such as multi-directional impact protection system (MIPS) technology, aim to address rotational forces that contribute to concussions. Recent research has highlighted the importance of addressing rotational forces in helmet design.

A study published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering found that helmets designed to mitigate rotational forces showed promise in reducing concussion risk. However, this remains an area of ongoing research and development in helmet technology.

Colorado Helmet Laws

In Colorado, helmet laws vary depending on the activity:

1. Motorcycles: Riders and passengers under the age of 18 must wear a DOT-approved helmet
2. Bicycles: No statewide law mandates helmet use, but some local ordinances require helmets for young riders
3. Skiing and snowboarding: No legal requirement, but strongly recommended by safety experts

When to Seek Legal Help After a Head Injury

If you suffered a traumatic brain injury or concussion in Colorado, even while wearing a helmet, seek both medical and legal help promptly after an accident.

1. Hidden injuries: Some brain injuries may not be immediately apparent and can worsen over time.
2. Concussion: Some people feel it’s okay to “tough it out” after a concussion, yet nothing could be farther from the truth. Concussions, particularly those that are not properly treated, can have cumulative effects and symptoms that worsen over time.
3. Complex claims: TBI cases often involve complex medical evidence and long-term care needs
4. Statute of limitations: In Colorado, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if your accident involved a motor vehicle, including a motorcycle, the statute of limitations is three years from the injury date.

Call a Brain Injury Lawyer with Fuicelli & Lee

At Fuicelli & Lee, our personal injury lawyers are fierce advocates for those who’ve sustained head injuries through no fault of their own. We recognize the elusive nature of these injuries and the lasting impact they can have on TBI survivors and their families.

Call Fuicelli and Lee today if you or a loved one suffers from an accidental brain injury. You may be eligible for compensation. You can reach us by calling (303) 444-4444 or completing our online consultation request form.

We offer free initial consultations without obligation. If we take on your case, we work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to pay anything unless we successfully secure the compensation you deserve.