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Why it is so important that your child wears a bike helmet

On Behalf of | Mar 24, 2021 | Bicycle Accidents

The weather is warming up here in Connecticut. You’ll soon see kids out riding their bikes en masse in your neighborhood.

While many of the younger children you see will hopefully be accompanied by their parents, older kids likely won’t be. Be particularly cautious of those unaccompanied kids who ride on the road. It is hoped that parents equip them with critical safety equipment like helmets, as studies show they save lives.

How serious of an issue are bike accidents?

Data published in 2018 by the Nationwide Children’s Hospital shows that at least 2.2 million youth between the ages of five and 17 visited emergency rooms (ERs) in the U.S. between 2006 and 2015. Statistics compiled by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) captured how many of these incidents are likely attributable to bike-riding.

NEISS data shows that at least 600 kids ended up being seen in ERs at the height of the 10-year span, despite a 30% decrease in bike accidents during this time frame. The same data shows that at least 72% of the patients were males and that at least 46% of them were age 10 to 14.

How many bike accidents result in head injuries?

The NEISS data shows that ER doctors saw at least 29% of the child patients who had bike accidents during those 10 years for bruises or scrapes. Another 23% had cuts.

At least 11% of the child bicycle accident victims suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Most of them belonged to the 10 to 14 age group and weren’t wearing helmets at the times of their crashes.

What you can do if your child is hurt while riding bikes

Any Connecticut bicyclist should always wear a helmet to protect them from getting hurt if they get into a crash and suffer injuries.

An attorney here in New Haven may advise you of your right to recover compensation for your child’s medical bills if a negligent motorist strikes them.

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