How Bicycle Helmets Are Made

Manufacturers sometimes have to exceed government standards to meet the ones established by the Snell Memorial Foundation. Helmets are designed to promote bicycle safety by limiting head injuries in cycling accidents, and responsible cyclists always wear them. However, accidents do happen, and when they do, riders need representation by a Dallas bike accident attorney to seek compensation for property damage, injuries, lost wages, and other legal matters. Attorney Bill Shirer, Cyclist at Law, can represent injured riders who need to seek compensation when a cycling accident occurs.

Snell Testing Procedures

Helmets are rated in a state-of-the-art lab at Snell Memorial Foundation, where technicians conduct tests that resemble road conditions.

Helmets must earn passing marks on these areas to achieve Snell certification:

  • Impact – Snell mounts a helmet on a metal head form and then drops it onto steel objects that are similar to objects a cyclist may hit while riding. The test indicates how well a helmet protects a rider’s head in a collision with a large object.
  • Positional Stability – This test places weight on a side of a helmet to measure how securely it fits. Shifting is acceptable, but the helmet fails if it rolls off the head. The test detects the ability of a helmet to stay on a rider’s head in case of an accident.
  • Dynamic Retention – A chin strap is fixed under a dummy jaw piece and a weight is attached for a minute to measure the strength of the strap in a fall. Chinstraps are considered effective if they can hold a helmet on a rider’s head in a crash.

Protecting Yourself in a Crash

Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles according to Texas law. To get fair compensation for injuries that result from a bicycle accident, call the Cyclist at Law at 800-887-6188.