I too had a head first crash -- car coming around a corner too fast hit me head on. My helmet crashed into the windshield in the front then onto the pavement in the back. I believe my helmet took the impact of the collision and mine was also a cheap Schwinn.

Before I purchased my first helmet I read up and what I found was generally that more expensive helmets do not protect better they just have some aesthetic and air flow options not necessarily found on a cheap helmet. I don't know, I just know I won't ride without a helmet and I do not care if the helmet made a difference or not.