Parents: Look out for Counterfeit Bike Helmets

November 21, 2018 | Blog

As a responsible parent, you do everything you can to ensure that your child is safe every time he or she leaves the house. As if you didn’t have enough to worry about already, a report by National Public Radio (NPR) adds another concern to the list: fake bike helmets.

According to the report, most of these counterfeits are sold through the internet and do not provide nearly the protection that a real helmet would. In fact, in a test conducted by Specialized Bicycle, a counterfeit Specialized helmet failed three safety tests and actually cracked in half during a test designed to see what would happen if a bicyclist slammed his or her head into the curb.

According to Specialized product developer Clint Mattacola, if a cyclist had fallen in the same way, “their skull would have hit the surface. Most likely would have suffered from skull fracture, brain damage or death.”

Fortunately, you can spot a counterfeit helmet:

• On a counterfeit, the plastic fit retention device is often made of cheap, stiff plastic with a bulky ratchet dial
• Counterfeit helmets are often lighter
• Fake helmets may have less foam and lack internal roll cages
• Counterfeit helmets often have logos that relate to European standards and do not have interior stickers indicating that the helmet meets Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards.
• Fake helmets may not fit correctly
• Counterfeits are often much cheaper

If you suspect that your child’s helmet is counterfeit, immediately take it away and obtain an authentic helmet before you let your child ride a bike.

Fake Bike Helmets May Lead to Traumatic Brain Injuries

If your child is wearing a counterfeit helmet and is involved in an accident, he or she could sustain a serious head injury, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs can result in serious, long-term issues that may significantly derail a child’s life, so parents must do everything they can to protect their children’s legal rights.

Unfortunately, if you purchased a counterfeit bicycle helmet online, the chances of finding the responsible party are slim.

If someone else’s negligence contributed to your child’s accident, however, you may file a claim to recover compensation from that party.

Inattentive or careless drivers may cause serious, injury-causing bicycle accidents, and entitle victims to compensation, by:

• Speeding
• Driving distracted
• Failing to stop at stop signs
• Running red lights
• Impaired driving

In addition, some bicycle accidents result from negligent design or maintenance of a street. Even if your child’s accident did not involve a driver, Indiana law may still entitle you to compensation. Anyone whose child suffered a serious injury in a bicycle accident in the Indianapolis area should discuss the case with Merry Fountain.

Call Indiana Personal Injury Attorney Merry Fountain Today for a Free Consultation

Indianapolis personal injury lawyer Merry Fountain is a skilled injury advocate. If you are looking for a bicycle attorney in the greater Indy area—Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville, Brownsburg, Avon, Kokomo, Lebanon—she’s here to help! Call her anytime at 1-888-242-HURT (4878), or simply click Tell Us About Your Case for a free consultation.