Revolutionary Bicycle Helmet Aims to Save Lives
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) affects some 1.5 million people in the U.S. each year. With this in mind, Bike Lawyer NC highlights a recent innovation designed to help prevent brain injuries among cyclists.
The Roots of Innovation
David Hall co-founded Park & Diamond with fellow mechanical engineer Jordan Klein after Hall’s sister suffered a traumatic brain injury from a bicycle accident in 2015. The company is named after the intersection in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she was struck by a hit-and-run driver.
The pair, hoping to encourage more cyclists to wear proper protection, sought a product that was effective, attractive, and easy-to-carry. A successful crowdfunding campaign rose over $1.35 million to fuel their research. The result is protective headgear nearly as thin as a baseball cap.
About Park & Diamond
After a successful crowdfunding campaign, cyclists can now have a safe, effective bicycle helmet that appears much like a normal baseball cap. At the same time, the Park & Diamond helmet Hall and Klein created was designed to absorb three times the energy of traditional helmets.
The Park & Diamond helmet—which meets both U.S. CPSC and EU EN-1078 safety standards—was designed to be lightweight, portable, and easy-to-carry. At the same time, engineers designed it to absorb and disperse impact energy more efficiently than a traditional helmet.
The helmet collapses to fit into a small carrying case the same size as a typical water bottle for ease of transport. Weighing only eight ounces; the Park & Diamond helmet also features hand-washable, interchangeable skins. The helmet is now available for pre-order.
Good News for a Population at Risk
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Virginia Tech state 835 bicyclists died in collisions with motor vehicles in 2016. They also note helmets lower the risk of head injury by 85% and prevent 60% of related deaths. Hall and Klein believe their helmet could save many lives.
I’ll See You On the Road
If you have any questions about cycling safety, bike law, insurance, or a bicycle accident you were involved in, contact Attorney Thomas Henson of Bike Lawyer NC by filling out a free consultation form or calling him at 919-781-1107.
As a cycling enthusiast and a Personal Injury Attorney for 30 years, Thomas understands the unique risks cyclists face on the road and would like to educate and help fellow cyclists in any way he can.