Motorcycle helmets save lives, but only when they perform as designed. When helmets fail during crashes - cracking, separating, or providing inadequate protection - injured riders may have product liability claims against helmet manufacturers. Understanding helmet defect claims helps victims pursue compensation when protective gear fails.
How Helmets Can Fail
Shell failures occur when the outer helmet shell cracks or penetrates on impact rather than distributing force across the surface. Defective materials or inadequate thickness cause shells to fail their primary protective function.
Liner failures happen when the inner EPS foam doesn't absorb impact energy properly. Insufficient density, improper construction, or material degradation can cause liners to bottom out instead of progressively crushing.
Retention system failures allow helmets to come off during crashes. Defective chin straps, buckles, and D-rings can release under impact forces, leaving riders unprotected.
Face shield failures permit penetration of debris or direct facial impacts. Shields that shatter rather than flex, or mounts that fail, create injury risks.
Helmet Safety Standards
DOT (Department of Transportation) certification is the minimum federal requirement for street-legal helmets. DOT standards address impact attenuation, penetration resistance, and retention strength.
Snell Memorial Foundation provides more rigorous voluntary certification. Snell-certified helmets undergo additional testing and typically exceed DOT requirements.
ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) certification applies to helmets sold in Europe and is often considered equivalent to or better than DOT standards.
Failure to meet applicable standards provides strong evidence of defect. Helmets that don't perform to certified levels are defective regardless of labeling.
Proving Helmet Defect Claims
You must prove the helmet was defective, the defect existed when manufactured (not from user damage), and the defect caused or worsened your injuries.
Expert engineers examine helmets to identify defects. They analyze failure patterns, materials, and construction to determine whether the helmet performed as it should have.
Biomechanical experts connect helmet failures to specific injuries, explaining how a properly performing helmet would have prevented or reduced harm.
Preserving Helmet Evidence
The helmet is the critical evidence in defect claims. Preserve it exactly as it was after the accident - don't clean, repair, or allow anyone to handle it unnecessarily.
Photograph the helmet from all angles, documenting damage patterns, impact points, and any visible defects. Store it safely to prevent additional damage.
Retain all packaging, manuals, and proof of purchase. These documents establish the helmet's identity and help trace manufacturing information.
Challenges in Helmet Cases
Defense experts argue helmet damage resulted from impacts beyond design limits. All helmets have limitations, and crashes can exceed their protective capacity.
Manufacturers claim improper fit or wear caused the helmet to perform poorly. However, helmets should work despite imperfect fit within the size range.
Proving what injuries would have been prevented requires expert testimony comparing actual injuries to expected outcomes with proper helmet performance.
Types of Helmet Defect Claims
Design defect claims allege the helmet model itself is unreasonably dangerous. Testing and standards violations across a helmet line support design defect arguments.
Manufacturing defect claims address problems with specific helmets - air bubbles in foam, thin shell areas, improperly attached components. Your helmet differed from the intended design.
Failure to warn claims address inadequate instructions about helmet limitations, proper fit, and when helmets should be replaced. Insufficient warnings create liability.
Damages in Helmet Defect Cases
Medical expenses for head injuries are often catastrophic - brain surgery, intensive care, rehabilitation, and long-term care costs can reach millions of dollars.
Lost earning capacity from traumatic brain injuries may encompass entire careers. Cognitive impairments prevent many TBI survivors from returning to previous employment.
Pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disability cause profound non-economic damages. TBI changes victims' lives permanently.
Multiple Defendants
The helmet manufacturer bears primary liability for defective products. Major helmet brands have insurance and assets to satisfy substantial judgments.
Component suppliers - foam manufacturers, buckle makers, shield suppliers - may share liability for defective components they provided.
Retailers in some states bear strict liability for selling defective products. Large retailers have significant resources for claims.
Helmet Recalls and Prior Incidents
CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) recall records reveal known helmet defects. Prior recalls for the same problems strongly support defect claims.
Complaints and reports of similar failures establish patterns of defects. Your attorney can investigate whether other riders experienced similar failures.
Internal manufacturer documents obtained through discovery may reveal known problems the company chose not to address.
Building Your Helmet Defect Case
Preserve the helmet immediately. Don't let anyone take it, including police or medical personnel, without documenting chain of custody.
Get immediate medical attention and complete all recommended treatment. TBI symptoms may not be immediately apparent.
Consult a product liability attorney experienced in helmet defect litigation. These complex cases require expert analysis but can provide significant compensation when protective equipment fails.