Helmet damage, minor crash?

[C.Linnell]

Hey all - just trying to assess some helmet damage...

My girlfriend had a bit of a crash after a lady cager pulled out in front of her to turn south, and didn't quite make the median strip. My GF (travelling north) hit her head on, probably with a combined speed of about 30kph (thanks to lots of braking!).

She went over the handlebars, and the front-left jaw of her helmet collided with the bonnet, just hard enough to cause a red mark for about an hour, with no bruising (possibly after softening the impact with her hands/ arms). She rolled off the bonnet and she doesn't think her head hit the ground.

5 hours in the hospital and she was cleared - no injury. Her CBR125 was written off though due to bent forks and frame.

So, my question is, is her helmet still usable?

[Bald Eagle]

Replace the helmet.

[Grubber]

In theory, no it's not.
suppose to get rid of them after a crash. But then i would access the damage and whether it actually hit the ground etc. If there was no actual impact, it would probably be sweet.
Like i said though, ya suppose to change them after a crash in theory.

[oneofsix]

Replace the helmet.

+1 claim it on the cager's insurance along with the bike, I am presuming the cager was in the wrong, otherwise it is your girlfriends cost but I guess you think her life and brains are worth the investment.

[Scuba_Steve]

So, my question is, is her helmet still usable?

Maybee May not be, I wouldn't recommend it. My question would be, is her head 'worth' more than a new helmet??? and use that as your basis for your decision

[Ender EnZed]

Replace the helmet.

+1

A $1500 helmet that might've been damaged is worth less than a new $150 helmet.

[spajohn]

+++ to all the above.

Also recommend this site for safety reviews: http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/

[rustyrobot]

Don't know if your girlfriend is insured, but my insurance covers helmets separately, so not included in the bike excess amount. At least, that's the way I read my policy.

[oneofsix]

Don't know if your girlfriend is insured, but my insurance covers helmets separately, so not included in the bike excess amount. At least, that's the way I read my policy.

If it was damaged in an accident the insurance is covering then it should be covered by the insurance that is covering the accident. If damaged by being dropped off the table then it might have to be household insurance. Now for the experts to tell me I'm wrong :-)

Beware the insurance might try the second hand helmet approach, this is either try to replace it with a second hand one or pay you out a depreciate price as if second hand is OK. A helmet is only any good if you have had it from new. I would like to see the insurance industry not depreciate helmets because they are a binary item, they don't depreciate, you buy them new and undamaged and they are worth their full value until damaged then they are worth 0 and you require the full amount of a new one. rant-off

[Eyegasm]

Beware the insurance might try the second hand helmet approach, this is either try to replace it with a second hand one or pay you out a depreciate price as if second hand is OK. A helmet is only any good if you have had it from new. I would like to see the insurance industry not depreciate helmets because they are a binary item, they don't depreciate, you buy them new and undamaged and they are worth their full value until damaged then they are worth 0 and you require the full amount of a new one. rant-off

I argued this with my insurance. Said second hand is BS as no dealer worth their salt will give a second hand valuation.

Told them helmets have a 5 year life (Read it somewhere) and mine was only 9 months old, so they should come to the party with 80% of replacement cost.

They ended up fully replacing it, something about being under a year old.

[StoneY]

Replace the helmet.

What he said - just replace it. It cant be relied on now

[jim.cox]

If the impact was big enough to bend frame and fork tubes, think what that same force might do to a helmet. Takes a lot to bend metal tubing...

New helmet time for sure

[willytheekid]

Throw it away!....Never risk using a damaged helmet......I tend to store my brain inside mine

Glad to hear/Read your better half is recovering well

[skippa1]

Its no good now. The only way to test its integrity properly is to crash again if its no good, she may die, if its good she may not either way, you either try the crash test or replace it.....

[Mom]

Cut the straps off it and chuck it away. It has done its job.

You say the helmet hit the bonnet of her car hard enough to make a mark on her? I dont understand why you need to ask the question.