Oregon Bicycle Helmet Injury Lawyer

Bicycle helmets are designed to protect the brain and the skull during an impact, and studies show that they are effective in preventing head injury. When a helmet itself causes harm, however, an otherwise relatively minor fall or impact may have serious, even life-threatening consequences.

A bicycle helmet is any headgear marketed as protecting a bicycle rider from head injury while riding, or that is marketed or promoted in a manner that implies it provides such protection. A helmet will be regarded as a bicycle helmet if a reasonable consumer could conclude from the marketing or promotion that bicycling is among the uses for which the helmet is intended. Helmets specifically marketed for exclusive use in skateboarding, in-line skating, baseball, or roller hockey are not covered by the federal requirements for bicycle helmets.

Bicycle helmet safety requirements help ensure that bike helmets prevent injury to the head and spinal cord by absorbing and dispersing impact during a collision. But helmet defects and failures still occur and may cause serious or even catastrophic bike helmet injuries. Potential problems with helmet design include a tendency for helmets to slip out of proper position with the unequal application of force; a tendency for hard-shell helmets to slide on concrete, potentially increasing the risk for facial injury in a crash; and a likelihood for soft or no-shell helmets to catch or drag on concrete surfaces, causing the head to decelerate at a faster rate than the rest of the body, which potentially increases the risk for neck injuries.

Recent recalls published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) have warned that plastic buckles that connect chin straps on defective bicycle helmets can fail, causing a helmet to come off the wearer’s head. Other bike helmets fail impact testing and labeling required under CPSC’s Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets, violating the Consumer Product Safety Act and posing a risk of a rider sustaining a serious head injury or spinal cord injuries if he or she falls from a bicycle. A defective helmet may fail to prevent the brain from striking against the skull upon impact, which can result in traumatic brain injury and brain damage.

Contact a Bicycle Helmet Defect Attorney after a Helmet-Related Injury
Our Portland personal injury law firm may be able to help recover compensation from negligent helmet manufacturers for injuries caused by defective bike helmets. If you or loved ones have been harmed by a bicycle helmet failure, contact Portland accident lawyer Dane E. Johnson for an attorney case evaluation at no cost to you. Call us toll free at (800) 714-3204 or contact us online.