Originally Posted by Steve Urquell

I'm a Physical Therapist Asst at my local hospital. I've treated several helmeted/non-helmeted crash victims. The non-helmeted patients usually end up being on the ventilator and losing pieces of their skulls/suffer brain damage depending on what they hit--an auto windshield vs 18y/o skull crash come to mind. Dude was seriously messed up and is now wearing a helmet for the rest of his life to protect his brain. He has a portion of skull that was removed and a soft spot as big as my fist. Ironic huh?

Another was a downhill crash on a carbon bike. Guy broke several ribs, collar bone and hit his helmet on the concrete. Had a nice bit of road rash on his chin and a Giro helmet in his room broken all the way through--no head injury. One of my co-workers never wore a helmet when we rode. I took him up and showed him the helmet that guy was wearing. He now wears a helmet when we ride.

I crashed in August, went over the bars, and protected my helmet with my chin. Broke my jaw on both sides. I can say that in 100% of the crashes I've had, a helmet would not have protected me. Do I wear one? Based on the patients I've seen I'd say it's pretty good insurance. If you don't want to wear one then that's fine too.