Researching bicycle helmets I learned that about 66.9 million Americans ride bicycles and each year over 600,000 people are treated in emergency departments (EDs) for bicycle-related injuries. Unfortunately, over 800 people die from bicycle accidents each year. Head injury is the most common cause of death and serious disability in bicycle related crashes; head injuries are involved in about 60 percent of the deaths, and 30 percent of the bicycle-related ED visits. Many of these nonfatal head injuries produce lifelong disability from irreversible brain damage. Societal costs associated with bicycle related head injury or death resulting from head injury were more than $3 billion annually.

American children, in particular, are avid bicyclists and an estimated 33 million children ride bicycles nearly 10 billion hours each year. Unfortunately, an average of 384 children die annually from bicycle crashes, and 450,000 more are treated in EDs for bicycle-riding related injuries. Each year about 153,000 children get treatment in hospital emergency departments for bicycle-related head injuries.

Bicycle helmets are proven to reduce the risk of bicycle-related head injury by about 80 percent, yet bicycle helmets are not worn by most riders. Only 19 percent of adults and 15 percent of children use helmets all or most of the time while cycling. These statistics are courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and they prognosticate that the universal use of bicycle helmets by children aged 4 through 15 years old would prevent between 135 and 155 deaths, between 39,000 and 45,000 head injuries, and between 18,000 and 55,000 scalp and face injuries annually.

My message is simple. Please help shine a light on the danger of head injury while bicycle riding by wearing a helmet and telling others to wear one too. I lead by example and wear a helmet every time that I ride my bicycle. So does my family. It is like wearing a seatbelt when you ride in a car. Everybody should do it. No excuses. Through awareness and charitable efforts every child should be able to afford a bicycle helmet. I actively participate in a bicycle helmet donation program called Heads In Helmets aimed at making helmets available and educating the parents that are teaching their children to ride. After all it is the law in Florida and most states across our country. If even one reader of this article made sure that their family wears a bicycle helmet we can prevent a head injury.

Sam Coffey, Esq. Fort Lauderdale, FL Practice Limited to Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, Products Liability and Wrongful Death

Shortly before the matter was to be noticed for trial the Defendants made a settlement offer that included a demand for confidentiality as to the amount of the settlement. The Plaintiff accepted the offer. If you or somebody that you know has been injured by a Chapin Industries pump sprayer we would like to hear from you.

The Fort Lauderdale Injury Law Firm has represented many clients who have been negligently or intentionally injured in motorcycle accidents by the actions of others. Our personal injury attorneys have a strong commitment to providing high-quality service to all clients. The firm’s practice areas include wrongful death, truck accidents, auto accidents, personal injury, defective products, catastrophic injuries, and medical malpractice. Howard Pomerantz and Richard Abramowitz opened the firm in 1986, making it one of the first personal injury firms in western Broward County. This gives the attorneys of Abramowitz, Pomerantz & Coffey, P.A. more than 25 years of experiencing handling personal injury cases. Samuel Coffey joined the practice in 2006, followed by Lyle Koenig, who has experience handling slip-and-fall cases, product liability issues, and disputes related to insurance coverage.
Call the Florida Injury Lawyers of Abramowitz, Pomerantz & Coffey, P.A. at 954-572-7200.