Originally Posted by
mconlonx
Someone posted an updated study a while back, with figures indicating that the less serious an injury is, the better helmets do with protection. While that might be stating the obvious, the numbers were interesting, and the study came to the conclusion that helmets helped mitigate injury even in half of serious injuries, a majority of moderate injuries, and most light injuries.
That is generally confirmed by the meta-studies in the reference, with their 25%-55% number. It just stands to reason that there is
some mitigation of serious injuries, since a straight fall of even 3 or 4 feet is potentially fatal and bike helmets are rated to mitigate that level of impact.
Originally Posted by
mconlonx
That said, if all a helmet helps with is superficial cuts, contusions, and abrasion injury, in the very rare instance of a crash with helmet contact, that's reason enough for me to wear one...
Me too usually, but honestly that's more of a matter of habit. It's only in the rain or other inclement conditions, or if I'm off the pavement, or on a crowded MUP that I'll wear one for safety reasons. For me, it would be more logical to wear shoulder pads since I
have been injured in that region and a head injury is unlikely for me. But I don't because the odds are so low.