Cycling Safety: Do You Really Need to Wear a Helmet?

Among the most hotly contested issues in riding is whether or not bike helmets should be required. Cycling for work, exercise, or fun is becoming more popular, which brings up the question of whether you should always wear a helmet. Let’s investigate the reasons for and against helmet usage as well as implications for UK bikers. If you are ever in an accident and realise you should have worn a helmet, SilverOak Solicitors will assist you in navigating the legal consequences.

Should Bike Helmets be Mandatory in the UK?

Former BBC presenter Dan Walker collided seriously with a driver on his bike in February 2024. Though he suffered injuries, he avoided head damage and hailed his helmet for perhaps saving his life. To further helmet use, Walker even proposed the catchphrase, “Don’t be a helmet, wear a helmet.”

Although many agree that helmets provide necessary protection, some feel the emphasis on helmet-wearing will eclipse other safety precautions. Former professional cyclist Chris Boardman, for instance, contends that rather than merely advocating helmet wear, efforts should be focused on making roads safer for cyclists. So should helmets become required? The argument is still under progress.

The Safety Debate: Are Helmets Always Effective?

The data on helmet safety is mixed. Helmets can lower brain injury risk by as much as 88%, claims the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA). A Dutch study even implied that, should all bikers wear helmets, helmet use may avert 85 lives yearly.

Helmets might, however, provide minimal defence in some cases. Helmets are less effective at high speeds, particularly in cases of incidents involving more than 31 mph. Furthermore, a research conducted in the Netherlands revealed that just 13.3% of hospitalised cyclists were wearing helmets, whereas less than 1% of Dutch riders use generally, so casting doubt on the efficacy of helmets.

Would Mandatory Helmet Laws Discourage Cycling?

Making helmets required has been shown to deter some from riding completely. Cycling rates fell by up to 23% following Australia and New Zealand’s mandatory helmet rules. By contrast, nations where helmets are not required, like as the Netherlands, have among of the highest cycling rates worldwide.

Fewer people Cycling can have bad effects on health when physical activity lowers. Furthermore, riding gets less safe when less people are on the road since the “safety in numbers” effect loses. Some analysts think it would be more advantageous to upgrade the infrastructure for road safety—including more cycle lanes—than to concentrate just on helmet regulations.

The Current Helmet Law in the UK

Wearing a bike helmet is not required legally in the UK. Although the Highway Code and Transport for London highly advise helmet use, the final say rests with the individual rider. Your capacity to seek compensation may be compromised, though, should you be in an accident and not be wearing a helmet.

People who get hurt in accidents that weren’t their fault can file a claim for compensation. Should it be discovered, nonetheless, that wearing a helmet may have lessened your injuries, the court might cut your compensation by “contributory negligence.” This could imply the court decides you were somehow liable for your own injuries, so lowering the compensation.

Each case is unique, and the court will consider factors like the road conditions and the speed of traffic when deciding if wearing a helmet would have made a difference. Still, without wearing a helmet runs the danger of lessening your compensation.

Should You Wear a Helmet?

Recently, at SilverOak Solicitors, we dealt with a cyclist who had a major head injury in an accident. The legal team of the opposite side argued for a 25% damage cut as the rider neglected to wear a helmet. To be successful in this assertion, though, they had to show that a helmet would have stopped the damage and that there was a legal obligation to wear one.

The defendant ultimately failed to prove that the biker was legally obliged to wear a helmet; since the hit happened on the front of the head—an area where helmets provide less protection—the damage reduction was denied.

Whether or not you should wear a helmet is not a simple issue. Although in some cases helmets can lower damage, they are not a perfect fix. The decision is yours, however you should weigh the hazards and be advised that not wearing a helmet could compromise your compensation should an accident occur. You can also use other ways to protect yourself from cycling accidents in the dark, like wearing reflective clothing.

How Personal Injury Solicitors Can Help

SilverOak Solicitors may offer skilled legal advice should you have been involved in a riding accident. Our team of experts guarantees you the medical treatment and financial recompense you are due by specialising in cycling accident claims. Whether your injuries are small or life-changing, our committed personal injury solicitors will work nonstop to assist you with expenses like lost income, medical care, and travel fees.

We have a great deal of expertise with customers with major injuries including spinal and head traumas. Helmet use and contributory negligence cases are no match for our team’s expertise and dedication to guiding clients through the legal system and achieving desirable outcomes.

Every cyclist should, in our opinion at SilverOak Solicitors, have the best possible protection and representation. If you require assistance following a bike accident, complete our form below and one of our staff members will be contacted to go over how we might be of use.