In Road Safety Week<http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/> (19-25 November 2012) and following the recent accidents of two high-profile cycling personalities, Bradley Wiggins (winner of this year's Tour de France and multiple Olympic gold medal winner) and Shane Sutton (head coach for the GB Cycling Team), the safety of cyclists is receiving much attention.
This paper, soon to be published in Social Care and Neurodisability<http://www.emeraldinsight.com/scn.htm> journal, highlights the clinical and legal issues around the wearing of cycle helmets.
The paper, written by Dr Declan Mc Nicholl (Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist), Ms Dawn Slow (Affinity Law Ltd) and Ms Anne Oliver, explains how helmets work, describes the current standards and regulations and reviews evidence for and against the use of cycle helmets as an effective method of protection against brain injury. In addition, this review of the literature also gives the actuarial and clinical backdrop to relevant case law, in particular the issue of contributory negligence.
For a username and password giving you access to the EarlyCite version of this paper please contact: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. The issue in which this paper appears publishes online in December 2012. The abstract of the article appears below.
For comment on the article please contact the authors via: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
About the paper:
Clinical and Legal Issues associated with the use of Cycle Helmets<http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=2042-0919&volume=3&issue=4>
Dr Declan Mc Nicholl, Ms Dawn Slow and Ms Anne Oliver
Structured Abstract:
Purpose - This paper is a review of the clinical and legal issues surrounding the wearing of cycle helmets. It explains how helmets work, the standards currently in place and arguments for and against their protective value. It then considers how this clinical and actuarial data has been interpreted in case law and in particular the issue of contributory negligence.
Design/methodology/approach - A search of scientific databases and public search engines was used to review relevant the literature up to August 2012.
Findings - There is conflicting evidence for the protective value of cycle helmets. Some researchers have found helmets to protect against head and facial injuries. Others have criticized the research methods used and questioned whether helmets can protect the wearer from the most damaging types of head injury. No trial judge has yet found a case for contributory negligence on the part of a cyclist not wearing a helmet.
Research limitations/implications - Research cannot use randomized control trials and is limited to other methodologies. Further work should focus on a range of aspects of safer cycling including cyclist and driver safety awareness along with comparing the safety factors of existing designs and developing better helmet design. Cyclists may wish to consider wearing a helmet to avoid claims for contributory negligence in the future.
Further information
Social Care and Neurodisability journal
This paper is taken from Social Care and Neurodisability<http://www.emeraldinsight.com/scn.htm> journal, which considers the health and social care aspects of working with people with acquired brain injury, neurodisability and neuroscience.
For more information on the journal or to discuss a future paper for publication please contact the editor:
Declan Mc Nicholl
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