Category Archives: motorcycle helmet testing standards

Motorcycle helmet testing standards Dr. John Lloyd has served attorneys nationwide for 25+ years in biomechanics, human factors, helmet testing and motorcycle accident expert

Helmet Expert Vital in Motorcycle Accident Cases

Why Is a Helmet Expert Vital in Motorcycle Accident Cases?

Motorcycle accidents usually cause severe injuries, especially head injuries and brain injuries. Hence, helmet analysis is a key factor in a legal suit. The motorcycle helmet expert assesses how helmets perform in reducing head injuries and brain injuries as well as liability ascertainment in cases of accidents. 

Dr. John Lloyd is among the top experts in the field, known extensively as an expert in motorcycle accident biomechanics and human factors. Dr. Lloyd has testified all over the United States during the last 30 years and performs scientific analyses of helmets concerning safety and accident reconstructions.

Motorcycle Helmet Expert in Accident Cases

Importance of Motorcycle Helmet Expert in Accident Cases

A motorcycle helmet expert evaluates the performance of the helmet during the crash: whether or not it meets regulatory safety standards and state of the science. Assessing helmet design, integrity of the material, and impact absorption, one of the experts, Dr. John Lloyd, evaluates the the helmet effectiveness for its intended function of protecting the rider from injuries.

Evaluation of the Damage Sustained by the Helmet and the Forces of Impact

Many of the functions of the helmet expert witness include examining the helmet after a collision for damage. For example:

  • Cracks, dents, and abrasions, which inform how the helmet interacted during the crash
  • Impact locations as a measure of severity of head trauma.
  • Compression of helmet liner analyses for insights into force absorption.

Determining Compliance with Regulatory Safety Standards

Helmets should also be manufactured to meet the safety regulations for DOT (Department of Transportation), ECE, and Snell standards. A motorcycle helmet expert will review the facts and determine whether the specific helmet met such safety requirements and standards. 

Investigating Helmet Fit and Proper Usage

If a helmet does not fit well, it loses some of its protective functionality and can further enhance the risk of a serious head or brain injury. The motorcycle helmet expert examines: 

  • Was the rider wearing the right size helmet?
  • Was the helmet secured and fastened?
  • Did improper fit contribute to the severity of rider injuries?

Dr. Lloyd’s expertise assists legal teams in determining whether the helmet was misused or defective. 

Testifying On the Stand

In litigation, the motorcycle crash expert presents scientific results to support claims regarding injury causation and helmet performance. Dr. Lloyd has testified in Federal, Superior, District, and Circuit courts more than 60 times. His testimony can enlighten judges and juries on the issues at stake regarding the use and abuse of helmets.  can enlighten judges and juries on the issues at stake regarding the use and abuse of helmets. 

Was the rider wearing the right size of helmet

Can a motorcycle helmet expert determine if a defective helmet caused injuries?

Yes. A motorcycle helmet expert can identify defects in design and manufacture, improper materials, and design flaws that contributed to injuries. 

  1. How does helmet analysis help in accident reconstruction?

Helmet analysis yields crucial data concerning impact force, injury pattern, and crash dynamics, assisting experts such as Dr. John Lloyd in reconstructing the motorcycle accident from a scientific viewpoint. s yields crucial data concerning impact force, injury pattern, and crash dynamics assisting experts such as Dr. John Lloyd in reconstructing the accident from a scientific viewpoint. 

Final Thoughts! 

The motorcycle helmet expert is a significant element in any accident investigation, conducting helmet analysis regarding damage, impact, and fit. Through scientific analysis and expert testimony, Dr. John Lloyd helps to improve motorcycle safety and the settlement of accidents.

What Every Rider Needs to Know About Motorcycle Helmets

I am a motorcycle enthusiast and a biomechanics researcher focusing on head and brain injury. Over the years I have performed more than 2600 helmet impact tests. The following are my take-away points for motorcyclists:

Lloyd-Biomechanics Motorcycle Helmets-Figure 2
  1. Helmets are the best protection we have against head and brain injuries. That said, standard certified motorcycle helmets are only 37-42% effective in preventing fatal head injuries. 
  2. Helmets are designed after ancient military helmets to serve as a second skull and thereby protect the head against focal injury.
  3. However, standard motorcycle helmets are not intended to protect against rotational brain injuries.
  4. There are two types of head and brain injuries, which are caused differently:
    • Translational (linear) forces cause focal injuries including cuts, bruises, and skull fractures.
    • Tangential forces cause rotational injuries including concussion, brain nerve damage, and brain bleeding.
    • Translational and tangential forces are generated in every impact
  5. Certified motorcycle helmets do a great job of protecting against focal head injuries.
  6. My research shows that DOT-certified motorcycle helmets reduce the risk and severity of focal injuries by 93 percent. 
  7. Novelty (non-certified) helmets do not offer any significant protection against focal injuries.
  8. It is therefore highly recommended that riders wear a certified motorcycle helmet at all times.
  9. Helmets that offer greater coverage, i.e. open-face (3/4) and full-face helmets, provide the best protection against focal injuries. However, the US DOT standard (FMVSS 218) [i] does not require impact testing of the chin bar, therefore there is no certified protection against facial injuries for full-face helmets that are only certified to the DOT standard.
  10. Generally, certified motorcycle helmets do not protect against rotational brain injuries. In fact, on average, a standard certified motorcycle helmet will actually increase the rider’s risk of concussion, nerve damage (axonal injury), and brain bleeding (subdural hemorrhage) by 19 percent, compared to an unhelmeted head impact.
  11. Rotational brain injuries are the cause of fatalities in two-thirds of all helmeted motorcycle deaths.
  12. It has been shown that, in general, larger and heavier helmets increase the risk of rotational brain injuries, including concussion, axonal injury, and brain bleeding because they generate greater impact-related rotational forces on the brain.
  13. So, what can a safety-minded rider do to minimize their risk?
  14. Revised motorcycle helmet standards are starting to look at brain injury risk. The new ECE 22.06 [ii] and Snell M2025 [iii] standards now measure the risk of rotational brain injury, though the passing threshold is 23% risk of neurologically devastating or potentially fatal rotation brain injury, at a moderate impact speed of 17.5 mph. 
  15. My recommendation is to choose a helmet that meets either the ECE 22.06 or Snell M2025 standard, in addition to whatever standard is mandated in your country.
  16. Choose a lighter, smaller helmet with the desired coverage over a larger, heavier helmet. Not only will this likely provide better protection against rotational brain injuries, but will also generate less wind resistance and be more comfortable on those longer rides.
  17. Consider helmets that incorporate new technologies that are intended to reduce the risk of rotational brain injuries.
  18. Don’t buy a helmet just based on looks, make an informed purchase based on fit and protective performance.
  19. What can motorcycle helmet manufacturer’s do to improve helmet performance?
  20. Current motorcycle helmet designs may be over-engineered to reduce translational forces that cause focal head injuries, resulting in helmets that are larger and heavier, thereby increasing the risk of rotational brain injuries, which are the primary cause of fatality in two-thirds of helmeted motorcycle crashes. Protection against focal injuries is important, but needs to be balanced against increased risk of rotational brain injuries. Manufacturers should evaluate materials that allow the development of smaller and lighter helmets.
  21. A meta-analysis is underway, comparing helmets intended for a variety of activities including motorcycling, skiing, bicycle, off-road, American football, ice hockey and military. Preliminary results suggest that helmets intended for other sports activities may outperform motorcycle helmets at similar impact speeds in terms of protection against both focal head injuries and rotational brain injuries

[i] U.S. Department of Transportation (2013) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Standard No. 218, Motorcycle helmets. Washington, DC.

[ii] United Nations (2021). Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of: Protective Helmets, of their Visors and of their Accessories for Drivers and Passengers of Motorcycles and Mopeds. Regulation No. 22-06

[iii] Snell Memorial Foundation. (2024). Standard for Protective Headgear for use with Motorcycles and Other Motorized Vehicles. M2025