head injuries

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Permalink Reply by Robert Olcott on September 18, 2010 at 3:57pm

I can remember when the National Criminal Justice Reference Service published results of their study of Police Motorcycle helmets, and how many of them failed to protect police motorcyclists. After attending a "repeal the helmet law rally", the pickup truck at the end of the procession was struck from behind by an "errant" motorcyclist (not part of the rally), who was wearing a helmet, and he was thrown over the truck, landing on a sidewalk. A doctor passing by stopped to assist, along with other passers-by, and the doctor noted the back of the helmet had impacted the rider's cervical spine, and the impact had also caused the rider's head to begin to swell inside the helmet.
Soon after, my family doctor was riding his motorcycle, wearing one of the most expensive full coverage helmets made at that time. While stopped at a stop light, a car next to him sideswiped him. The helmet protected his face/head, but was severely damaged enough to no longer provide protection were he to not replace it. He incurred a dislocated shoulder, in spite of the leather motorcycle jacket he was wearing. His motorcycle sustained substantial damage.
For the first time in almost fifty years, vehicle accidents decreased nationwide, last year. That may not comfort the mother of a 23 year old, with a permanent brain injury, but I understand why riders under 18 must wear them. I don't know how old the rider was at the time of his brain injury, and whether it was due to questionable helmet construction, or some other factor.