While riding a motorcycle can be one of the most exhilarating and freeing experiences you can have on the open road, it can also be quite dangerous. One false move on the part of the rider or a wrong move on the part of a distracted driver can translate into disaster. Because after all, unlike an automobile passenger or driver, a motorcyclist rides while entirely exposed.
Says the Barnes Firm, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Los Angeles, motorcycle accidents can be nothing short of devastating. They often result in life-changing circumstances for everyone involved. It doesn’t matter how seriously a motorcyclist takes his or her safety, an accident can happen in an instant. Most of these motorcycle accidents are serious and too many of them fatal.
So how can you enjoy riding your motorcycle while protecting life and limb? It all starts with your head. In a recent article, the author asks, do you wish to protect your skull when you ride your motorcycle? If so, helmets are the most important item you can own for ensuring your overall safety. That’s due to the fact that brain damage is the most common injury for motorcycle owners/riders.
Hands down, the helmet is a must have for protecting both your head and your face. Still, many riders believe the helmet creates a barrier or “mental block,” that separates them from the environment and the riding experience. Therefore, they don’t like wearing it. However, the U.S. government has taken necessary legal steps to make helmet use mandatory for both motorcycle riders and passengers.
The purpose of the helmet is to absorb the impact of a violent collision on the skull and brain during a sudden motorcycle accident. When choosing a helmet, the most important thing to look for are the materials that go into it.
These days, helmet manufacturers are engineering their protective products with crack resistant, lightweight, but tough materials. A helmet’s impact resistance can be gauged by its size and shape, or so the experts say.
Like anything else, the better the helmet the more it’s going to cost. But spending a few extra dollars for a superior product that ensures your safety when riding your motorcycle will be worth it for you and your family.
The Helmet’s Function
The primary function of a motorcycle helmet of to save the head. In particular, the outer, hard, boney surface of the skull. If a motorcyclist becomes engaged in an accident, the helmet should, theoretically speaking, save his or her head from possible serious, brain damaging injuries. The helmet won’t prevent the accident, but it can prevent a possible fatal injury that can result from it.
If you’re in the market for your first helmet or a new helmet, here are some things to consider before your pull out your credit card.
Helmet Material
Different helmets are made from different materials. Some materials consist of tough, resistant fibers and composites, while others are made simply from very hard, molded plastic. It’s up to you and your pocketbook to decide which type and design of helmet you would like to purchase for the protection of your head and brain when riding your motorcycle.
Helmet Weight
Helmet weight is another important factor to consider. If you wish to feel comfortable and free while riding your motorcycle, you need to go with a lightweight helmet.
But some riders actually feel more comfortable in a heavier helmet while others will still insist on something more lightweight. The choice is yours. The point is to feel comfortable while being fully protected.
Helmet Design
Helmet design differs from brand to brand. Some are constructed with great attention to detail and look very sharp. Others are far more functional than a statement on the latest fashion and/or trend.
No matter what the design, an “approved” helmet must bear a symbol or seal by the manufacturer that it lives up to the protective regulations and standards set forth by the U.S. government.
While the above considerations represent the basic things one should consider when purchasing a motorcycle helmet, there are other, more personal factors you wish to consider, such as color and visor tinting. One thing is for certain. You should do your own research prior to leaving your home.
Go online and seek out the many brands of motorcycle helmets on the market today, and pay special attention to owner’s reviews and comments regarding the various products. This will be the first step in protecting your head when you go for a long, weekend motorcycle ride.
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