Does Your Helmet Actually Protect You in an Accident?

Helmet Testing

In the United States, helmet testing is still using techniques and guidelines set in 1999. This means they are about 10 years old at this point, and what we know in 10 years can change a lot. The truly unfortunate part is that the testing that these helmets undergo doesn’t even accurately mimic the type of impact that actual cyclists undergo in an accident. They prevent fractures in terms of direct impact, but direct impact to the head on a bicycle is typically not what happens in an accident. Instead, you likely rely on the rim of the helmet more for protection, something that isn’t tested.

The Protection You Need

So how do you know if your helmet will actually protect your head in an accident? If you are concerned, what you want to look for is a helmet that advertises that it is MIPS-equipped. MIPS, or Multi-Directional Impact Protection System, is a rather new technology but allows the head to slide and twist slightly inside the helmet to actually reduce the amount of impact that can be caused in a trauma.

If you are using an urban-style helmet or a very old helmet, it is time to upgrade. With luck, you won’t need to find out how good your helmet is in an accident. However, wouldn’t you rather have a good one just to be safe?

Accidents Happen

If you have been in an accident, you likely won’t walk away from it unharmed. If you have been in a cycling accident and need help, contact us today to see what the Law Office of Gary Brustin can do to help you get the compensation that you deserve.

Male Cyclists Are 8 Time More At Risk For Accidents

Every time you take your bike on the road, you are at risk for an accident. For cyclists, the risk of accident is infinitely greater than even those who drive cars because the car-centric roadways are filled with drivers that don’t know how to drive safely around cyclists. However, even among that risk, apparently male cyclists are 8 times more likely to get in an accident.

The Stats

This statistic comes from data collected from the California Highway Patrol between 2003 and 2015. During this time, there were 1,753 fatal cycling accidents, and of those, 1,557 involved male riders. Why is this? Well, part of the reason is rather simple – there are more male cyclists out there. Furthermore, men are always inclined towards more risk-taking behavior.

What this means is that unlike many women cyclists, their male peers are more likely to try and ride through that yellow light or take a more traffic-heavy route. However, no matter who you are, you are at risk for cycling accidents until cities embrace that more people are taking their bike to work rather than their car and build roads with them in mind. While these statistics likely played a part in California’s decision, many cities throughout the state have already taken huge strides in creating safer roads for cyclists to ride.

Accidents Happen

Unfortunately, if you have been in a cycling accident, it is probably something that you won’t walk away from. It can cause traumatic injuries and a huge amount of damage to your bicycle. If you have been in a cycling accident in California, it isn’t something that you have to deal with alone. Contact us today to see what the Law Office of Gary Brustin can do to help you get the compensation that your injuries deserve. Don’t let another negligent driver get away with injuring yet another cyclist.

 

Is a Vest Air Bag The Bike Safety Feature of the Future?

B’Safe’s Vest Air Bag

Typically you don’t see a lot of cycling innovation at CES, but this year, alongside its other technological marvels, B’Safe company showcased their vest air bag made specifically for cyclists. This vest comes in two parts, the electronic unit mounted to the saddle to pick up signals and an inflatable vest to protect the wearer.

How this B’Safe product works is that the saddle mounted unit features an accelerometer that detects sudden shocks, like from being hit. It also uses a motion sensor to detect other accidents that don’t involve being struck, but cause the rider to fall off their bike. Once either of these sensors are triggered, it causes a replaceable CO2 cartridge to inflate an airbag located throughout the vest in under 80 milliseconds. The vest also runs on a battery that needs to be recharged every seven days. The battery is activated when the vest is zipped, and turned off when the zipper is undone.

This vest cradles the chest and back areas from impact and injury. When used in conjunction with a helmet, it provides safety to all the crucial parts of the body. However, now comes the downside. Right now, this safety system is priced at $700, which is quite a price to pay for safety. While the vest does serve as an extra layer of protection and allows better visibility on the road, it may take a few price drops before this system catches on among cyclists.

Accidents Happen

Even if you can afford the expense of increased safety, if you get into an accident, your damages and injuries should not be your responsibility if the accident was due to the negligence of another. If you have been in a cycling accident, contact us today to see what we can do to help you get the compensation that you deserve.

 

Spring Cleaning Your Bicycle

If winter turned up and you locked your bicycle away, the most you will have to do come spring is wipe away a bit of dust. However, if you continued to use your bicycle throughout the winter, it is likely that it could use a bath. Similar to how a car builds up salt and other grime, so, too, will your bicycle. Even just one ride through winter slush can build up quite a bit of grime. If you really want to keep your bicycle working right, then it should be cleaned after each ride. However, how does one clean a bicycle?

Bicycle Cleaning Tips

If you choose to use just warm water, you’re going to need more scrubbing than usual. It is perfectly safe to use a little detergent mixed in warm water to help get the tough grime off. To make things even easier, you can load it in a spray bottle. You may also want to remove the wheels to get into the small spaces where road dirt can accumulate. Be sure to pay attention to the inside of the fork and the rear triangle, as this is where a surprising amount of dirt tends to build up.

The final piece of spring bike maintenance should be to lube up your bike chain. It doesn’t matter whether you had to clean it or not, the chain is likely stripped of the oil that it needs to operate smoothly. As to what oil to use, it should be formulated for your bicycle, but there are a lot of varieties to choose from.

Contact Us

While bicycle maintenance helps keep your bike working smoothly, and that in turn can prevent accidents, sometimes accidents happen. If you have been hurt as a cyclist, we can help you. Contact us today to see what the Law Office of Gary Brustin can do to get you the compensation that you need.