According to statistics, bicycle injuries are responsible for emergency room visits among kids between the ages of 5-14 more than any other sport. To make it worse, the injuries sustained from bike accidents are among the leading causes of injury-related death among children. There is no guarantee of protecting your children against bike injuries but a good place to start will be to ensure that they’re wearing helmets at all times. You can also get in touch with a personal injury attorney if the cause of the injuries were a result of someone else’s negligence. Here are some of the tips that will come in handy to fit the helmet properly so as to avoid injuries.
How Kids Helmet Work
You don’t want to treat the helmets as only an accessory as that isn’t how they work, especially when it comes to kids. They can be life-saving devices when used the right way. They’ll act as a cushion and a shock absorber when a person’s head gets into contact with a surface. By wearing a helmet, there is an extra layer of protection for the skull.
When Should Kids Wear a Helmet?
The little devils should be wearing helmets anytime they’re out riding the bicycle. It’s impossible to know when a crash will happen. That’s why it’s better to be safe than sorry. It can be hard to make the habit stick but it will be for the benefit of the kids. There are external factors such as a blown-out tire, brake failure, wet surfaces that can catch even the most coordinated biker off-guard.
How Effective are the Bike Helmets For Kids?
According to statistics, helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries or death by 85% among young cyclists. Up to 400,000 children are hospitalized every year because of bicycle injuries. Out of this number, more than 10,000 children will be admitted for a couple of days. Bicycle accidents are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 5-14. A broken bone will heal with time but you can’t expect the same for a broken brain. When the kids are wearing a helmet, the risks of visiting the ER are significantly reduced.
Is Wearing Helmets a Legal Requirement?
The laws will vary from one jurisdiction to another. There are over 22 states with some form of bicycle policy. Individual counties also have ordinances on the use of helmets by children that are under the age of 18. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute is a great resource if you’d like to keep up to date with the legal requirements or helmets for both adults and children. Just because it’s not illegal doesn’t mean that it should be disregarded, especially if it concerns the safety of your kids.
The helmet is primarily for riding and shouldn’t be used for play as it can cause strangulation. If your kid gets injured in an accident because of someone else’s fault, you deserve to be compensated. Check out https://midwestlaw.group/services/personal-injury-attorneys/ for more information.
Midwest Trial Lawyers
9300 West 150th Terrace
Overland Park KS 66221
(913) 380-4004