Bicycle Safety And The NY State Helmet Law From A NY Personal Injury Attorney

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported in 2009 that 91% of bicyclists killed in accidents did not wear a helmet. According to the NY State Department of Health, 38% of hospitalizations due to bicycle accidents involve brain injuries. Numbers like this lead to laws requiring those under the age of 14 to wear bicycle helmets in NY, or else face a $50 fine. Follow these tips when wearing a helmet to improve bike safety:

Choosing a Helmet

• Helmet must have a fastener and strap that are made from strong materials to keep it secure in a crash.
• Helmets made after March 10, 1999 must meet the US Consumer Product Safety Commission standard and have a CPSC sticker.
• Polystyrene or other materials that absorb shock should be the main element in the helmet.
• Choose a helmet with a ventilation hole on the outer shell to prevent head injuries.
• Padded lining makes the helmet more comfortable.

Wearing the Helmet Correctly

• Helmet should fit to the head all the way around and not shift out of place if the rider is shaken or suddenly jolted.
• The helmet must sit on your head level. The front should lay above your eyebrows.
• Adjust the straps so that the front rim is not in your line of sight when looking up.
• The chin strap needs to be tight enough that when you open your mouth, that helmet pulls down slightly.
• Avoid wearing the same helmet if you have fallen and hit your head with it on, until it has been checked out by the manufacturer.

Contact an experienced NY personal injury attorney if you or someone you love was hurt in a bicycle accident.