California has more regular bike riders than most states in the country. Most people who ride bikes know that they should wear a helmet and that they are in fact required by law to wear a helmet. They know that if they wear a helmet, they will be much less like to be severely injured or killed in a bike accident.
Unfortunately, just buying a bike helmet is not enough, as evidenced by a recent influx of counterfeit bike helmets to the market. These helmets do not meet the safety standards required in the United States. If you are injured in any type of bike accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a bike accident, we urge you to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation. Otherwise, read on to find out how you can protect yourself against these dangerous, counterfeit helmets.
Why are counterfeit helmets so dangerous?
These helmets are dangerous for one simple reason: They do not meet the safety standards that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has set out for bike helmets. They look like helmets from companies that meet these requirements, but they do not have the essential safety features that a legitimate helmet would.
How can I tell if I have a counterfeit helmet?
First of all, take a look at it. Is it made out of cheaper, more rigid plastic than other bike helmets? Is the interior cushioning thinner? Is it missing the protective fiber skeleton inside? This is designed to keep the helmet from breaking when a rider hits their head and it is one of the most serious omissions of these counterfeit helmets as it can significantly decrease protection against traumatic brain injuries.
Just how dangerous are these counterfeit helmets?
Specialized Bicycles, a company that makes some of the most trusted helmets in the world, has tested their authentic Specialized Evade II helmet alongside a counterfeit one. They found that when the helmet was put on the head of their test dummy, all that needed to be done to get the helmet off was to pull the strap. This strap must remain in place to protect cyclists but it did not.
Another test showed that when the counterfeit helmet was smashed with an anvil, it easily broke in half. The legitimate helmet did not break at all. When you think about how this would affect a cyclist, it’s easy to see that the real helmet would likely have prevented any serious injury while the counterfeit helmet could have led to death for the rider.
Protect yourself and call us if you need help
As you can see, it is more important than ever to carefully consider your safety purchases. You may choose to buy helmets in person at shops you trust. If you buy online, it’s best to buy directly from the manufacturer and not a third party. If you are injured while on your bike, contact an attorney as soon as possible. You can reach The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 now for a free legal consultation.
