Originally Posted by
curbtender
Beyond the initial impact, wouldn't you think a helmet saves some skin? If you get knocked out, you really don't have control of what part of your body is grinding into the asphalt.
Yes they are effective for preventing scrapes and contusions and in mitigating the painful bumps (non-traumatic). Also, a skull fracture can occur at lesser impacts than traumatic brain injuries, and reasonably the foam helmet is more effective in preventing that.
That should be taken in context, both the chances of these kinds of injuries and their severity. The helmet will unquestionably help, but in my personal risk calculus of these minor injuries, the probability times severity is normally low enough that I have no qualms if I forgo the helmet, but significant enough that I don't feel foolish if I wear one.