 A bicycle helmet is an important safety device that is known to decrease the risk of serious brain and spinal cord injury in a bicycle accident. A bicycle helmet prevents injury to the head and spinal cord by absorbing and dispersing the impact during an accident. A faulty bicycle helmet may put a child at risk for a serious injury during an accident.
Although manufacturers are required to meet many federal standards regarding the construction of bicycle helmets, defects and failures in design are still common.
Types of defects
The two main forms of bicycle helmet defects are:
- Retention system failure: In many bicycle accidents, it is common for the chin-strap keeping the bicycle helmet in place to fail. This can result in serious injury, such as a skull fracture.
- Head impact attenuation: If the materials of the helmet shell do not absorb the force of an impact properly, brain injury can occur. Head impact attenuation can be caused by either the:
- Defects of the bicycle helmet shell, causing it to crack or not distribute an impact properly
- Defects of the bicycle helmet liner, causing the liner to collapse or break, which will not deflect the force of an impact
Causes of defects
Bicycle helmet defects can be caused by:
- Inadequate design
- Faulty materials
- Negligent manufacturing
Legal rights
If your child, or the child of a loved one, has suffered serious or fatal injuries to the head or spinal cord due to defects in a bicycle helmet, contact the renowned products liability attorneys at Eisenberg, Rothweiler et al. We have a wealth of experience protecting those who have been injured due to the negligence of others. We can evaluate your case free of charge to determine the best way to protect your legal rights. Please contact us to speak with a bicycle helmet attorney near you.
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