Helmet Defect Lawyers in PA
Head and brain injuries can often be the most serious and devastating injuries a person can suffer with unimaginable consequences. This is why helmets are required for many different sports, recreational activities, and for motorcycling. Helmets are used in a wide array of activities like bicycling, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, football, skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, horseback riding, and motorcycling. When people purchase and wear helmets, they expect and believe that they will be protected from serious head injuries. Helmets are designed to absorb impact forces, protecting your skull and brain from receiving the majority of an impact. They can help protect against traumatic brain injury, skull fracture, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, paraplegia, quadriplegia, coma, and death. The majority of bicycling and motorcycle accident fatalities resulted from head and brain injuries when cyclists were not wearing helmets. The Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that many of the bicycling fatalities could have been prevented if the victims had worn helmets, and that helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 85%.
Unfortunately, manufacturing defects, malfunctioning straps and buckles, and flawed helmet design can completely erase the potential lifesaving qualities helmets are supposed to provide. Improperly molded plastic or incorrect chemical mixtures can significantly change the strength of a helmet’s outer shell. Other common helmet defects include exterior shells failing to withstand impact forces and cracking on impact, inadequate padding on the interior of the helmet, defective chin straps, defective strap tightening mechanisms, and defective buckles, snaps, or fasteners that can cause helmets to fall off during an accident. Thousands of helmets are recalled every year for failing to meet minimum standards helmets must meet in order to provide adequate rider protection, or due to manufacturing defects. In fact, eight different motorcycle helmet models that had stickers certifying they met federal standards actually failed to meet the Department of Transportation’s minimum standards and safety compliance testing.
Many people may not know that not all helmets are created equally. Some helmets are designed to only withstand one severe impact, while others are created to endure multiple moderate impacts. Helmet manufacturers must warn consumers if a helmet can only withstand a single blow, so consumers wont reuse helmets that no longer provide adequate head protection. Certain helmets are designed for specific activities and are not suitable for other activities. For example, helmets that are made for horseback riding or rock climbing are not required to meet the same safety regulations of bike helmets, and should not be used when bicycling. Bike helmets, which are meant to withstand a single severe impact, should not be worn for football or hockey, where players are subjected to many moderate impacts. Helmets should have instructions on their proper use, and limitations. Consumers must be warned about what helmets will not be able to protect against, and a manufacturer’s failure to warn consumers may result in catastrophic injuries or death.
When helmets fail to work properly, or are defective or poorly designed, you or someone you love may be left with devastating, life-altering injuries, or even death. If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic head injury, traumatic brain injury, brain damage, hemorrhage, or paralysis following a helmet failure, the experienced Pennsylvania product liability lawyers of Reiff & Bily may be able to help. For over three decades, we have investigated and litigated thousands of cases of negligence, product liability, failure to warn, and defective products on behalf of catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed victims and their families. We can help you obtain compensation for medical bills, rehabilitation costs, loss of income if you have been out of work, and the pain and suffering you have had to endure because of someone else’s negligence or mistake. Contact one of our experienced helmet failure and Pennsylvania product liability attorneys for a free, no-obligation consultation.
