A new study was just released that solidifies the argument that bicycle helmets can save lives. According to US News, researchers in Canada looked at close to 150 bicycle fatalities that happened from 2006 through 2010. Cyclists involved in these accidents ranged from 10- to 83-years-old. More than 85 percent of these victims were males. Cars and other motor vehicles were involved in more than three quarters of these fatal accidents.
The bicyclists who were killed in these accidents because of a head injury were about three times less likely to be wearing a helmet at the time of collision than those who were killed because of other injuries sustained in the accident. The study was published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
Our Palm Beach bicycle accident lawyers understand that bicyclists stand little to no chance of survival in a serious accident with a motor vehicle. Cars and trucks carry so much weight and power that it’s an unfair match up when accidents occur. It’s important for these two-wheeled travelers to be on the lookout when traveling near vehicular traffic. Staying one step ahead of the movement around you will help to cut down your risks of a potentially fatal accident.
“We saw an association between dying as a result of sustaining head injury and not wearing a helmet,” wrote Dr. Navindra Persaud, with St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
When tallying bicycle fatalities, they account for more than 2 percent of all of the recorded traffic deaths for the year. As a matter of fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there were more than 615 cyclists who were killed in the U.S. in 2010. There were another 50,000 injuries sustained by our two-wheeled friends.
The state of Florida is one of the most dangerous states in the country for these kinds of accidents, too. In 2010, there were close to 100 bicyclist fatalities recorded in the Sunshine State. We ranked as only the second most dangerous state for riders, behind the state of California.
Riders have to fend for themselves out there, because it’s clear that no one else is going to do it. Be safe, be alert and be aware when riding your bicycle to help to keep yourself out of the path of any irresponsible drivers.
Riders can qualify to get a free bike helmet through the PedBike SRC. All you have to do is register on the site. You’ll then have to become a community partner, meaning that you have to attend and complete a bicycle helmet fitter training program. Once you’ve completed this program, you have to fax or email a scanned copy of the completion certificate to the organization. Lastly, you’ll have to complete the Community Partner Agreement Form. Once all of this is verified by officials, you’ll get access to the Helmet Store and you can get your free helmet!
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a bicycling accident, contact Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. Call 1-800-561-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Bicycling in Palm Beach: An Even Mixture of Benefits and Risks, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, July 18, 2012
Bicycle Accidents in Greenacres and Elsewhere Focus of South Florida Awareness Ride, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, June 19, 2012