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Helmets don't always help to avoid brain damage or death of the rider

By Steve Lombardi

On April 14^th 2009 William Lee Kilmer of Des Moines was traveling west on Aurora Avenue when he lost control of his motorcycle hit a curb and crashed head first into a tree. Mr. Kilmer was not wearing a helmet which some believe could have saved his life.

Of course without seeing the autopsy report and knowing what anatomically caused his death, it's not right to jump to the conclusion a helmet would have saved his life.

I can't say that helmets would have saved Mr. Kilmer's life; nor will I go so far as to say just wearing a helmet will always save you from brain damage; but I can say common sense tells me wearing a helmet will protect to some degree your brain.

Look at the comments from the Des Moines Register article. Interesting to say the least.

Replying to divergent1:

" I don't care if you wear a helmet or not.

Nor, as a taxpayer do I want to subsidize your life in a nursing home if you crack your melon.

So, as long as your liberty and your right to choose doesn't cost ME money for your care for the rest of your disabled life (assuming a life-altering event that could have been lessened by the wearing of a helmet), do whatever you please.

Keep in mind that the cost of bad decisions by a few are shouldered by the rest of us.

For that reason there I have Full Coverage Insurance as well as personal insurance that I PAY INTO. So you do not have to worry about footing the bill for my medical costs because I CHOSE not to wear my helmet! It is my right as well as my choice!
How many more rights are we going to hand over to the government.
I'd venture to guess the illegals cost you more in hospital costs in a month than I would in a month if I get into an accident without insurance!"

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divergent1 wrote:

You wrote: " Helmets can be irritating and can cause blind spots for the rider. "

Blowing through a straw to change the direction of your wheelchair can be irritating also.

As long as you do not belong to the same health insurance group I do, I don't care if you wear a helmet or not.

Nor, as a taxpayer do I want to subsidize your life in a nursing home if you crack your melon.

So, as long as your liberty and your right to choose doesn't cost ME money for your care for the rest of your disabled life (assuming a life-altering event that could have been lessened by the wearing of a helmet), do whatever you please.

Keep in mind that the cost of bad decisions by a few are shouldered by the rest of us.

You wrote: "Also, the cause of death has not been determined."

I'm not an emergency room technician, but I'd hazard a guess of massive blunt force trauma.

Motorcyclist meeting tree isn't going to be saved by a helmet, I will grant you that.

Lifelong rider, and yes, with a helmet

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Everyone should be aware that "full coverage" isn't necessarily what most people expect. A full coverage policy with low insured limits is after an accident a painful lesson to learn. Look at your declarations page and make sure you understand the differences.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on May 04, 2009 (boomark / email).