A new study shows that wearing a bicycle helmet significantly reduces the risk of serious brain injury and death in the event of a collision. A medical record analysis of more than 6,200 people who suffered a brain injury in a cycling crash revealed that those who wore a bike helmet were 58% less likely to have their injury categorized as severe. The study also found that helmet users were 59% less likely to die, 61% less likely to require surgery to alleviate brain swelling, and 26% less likely to have facial fractures. The findings show the importance of bicycle helmet use, developing and enforcing stricter helmet use laws, and the creation of better helmets.
American College of Surgeons, October 2015