Defective Helmet Lawsuits

Defective Helmet Lawsuits: Protecting Riders and Athletes

Whether used on motorcycles, bicycles, construction sites, or athletic fields, consumers trust helmets to reduce the risk of serious head injuries. Unfortunately, not every helmet on the market performs as promised. When a helmet fails due to poor design, substandard materials, or inadequate warnings, the consequences can be catastrophic. Victims may suffer concussions, traumatic brain injuries, or even fatalities—all of which can form the basis of a defective helmet lawsuit.

The very idea of defective safety gear and unsafe protective equipment is disturbing, and yet helmet defects may be more common than previously thought. This goes for hardhats, motorcycle and bicycle helmets, as well as sports equipment, including football, hockey, and lacrosse helmets.

The safety outlook is particularly stark for football safety: football helmets, even though they can protect well against skull fractures, do not protect well against concussion injury. In a high-profile football helmet defect case, a jury in Colorado held Riddle accountable for failing to warn football players of the risk of concussions.

Riddell now faces multiple other lawsuits from thousands of former football players. The jury, which awarded $11.5 million in damages, said that Riddell’s helmets were defective in the sense that the company failed to properly and thoroughly warn athletes of the dangers.

The plaintiff and their attorney argued the company knew they had a problem testing their product many years ago, and failed to disclose that information.

Joe Lyon is an experienced consumer safety lawyer and product liability attorney reviewing helmet defect lawsuits for plaintiffs nationwide.

Defective Helmets & Injury Risk

Head injuries are the primary cause of death and spinal injury among motorcycle drivers. If a helmet is defective, the risk may be similar to not even wearing one.

Helmets have prevented thousands of head, brain, and neck injuries on motorcycles and bicycles, and it is critical that the helmets meet safety standards, and designed to absorb as much of an impact as possible.

Safety standards have been established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) but not every manufacturer meets the minimum requirements. During sports accidents or road accidents, the most common injuries linked to defective helmets include:

• Brain Injury
• Concussion
• Neck & Spinal Injury
• Wrongful death

How Helmets Fail

Helmets are supposed to meet strict safety standards before reaching consumers. Yet, many still make it to market with flaws that compromise protection. Common types of failures include:

• Design Defects – Some helmets are engineered in ways that do not properly absorb impact or cover vulnerable areas of the head.

• Manufacturing Defects – Even a well-designed helmet may become dangerous if production shortcuts, faulty materials, or quality-control lapses occur.

• Inadequate Warnings – Manufacturers must warn users about limitations. If a helmet cannot withstand certain impacts, consumers deserve to know.

• Counterfeit Products – The rise of online marketplaces has increased the risk of fake helmets that mimic trusted brands but provide little or no protection.

These failures are not minor inconveniences. A defective helmet can mean the difference between walking away from an accident or sustaining a lifelong brain injury.

Legal Theories in Helmet Defect Cases

When pursuing compensation, attorneys often rely on product liability laws. Several theories may apply:

1. Strict Liability – Manufacturers and sellers may be held responsible if a helmet is unreasonably dangerous, regardless of whether they acted negligently.

2. Negligence – Plaintiffs may argue that a company failed to test products adequately or ignored known safety issues.

3. Breach of Warranty – Helmets are marketed as safe protective gear; when they fail to perform as advertised, warranties may be breached.

Each case depends on the facts, including how the helmet was marketed, tested, and sold. Skilled legal representation can help uncover internal records, design flaws, and regulatory violations that strengthen a claim.

Who May Be Liable?

Liability does not always fall solely on the helmet manufacturer. Potentially responsible parties may include:

• Component suppliers (e.g., foam, straps, shell materials)

• Distributors and retailers who knowingly sold defective gear

• Certification organizations, if testing was mishandled or fraudulent

• Online marketplaces that failed to police counterfeit sales

By identifying all responsible entities, victims improve their chances of recovering full compensation.

Bicycle & Motorcycle Helmet Defects

To be effective and prevent head injury, a helmet must be well-manufactured, meet design and safety standards set by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and should be tested properly by a third party. Consumers should only buy motorcycle helmets compliant with federal standards.

The Consumer Product & Safety Commission (CPSC) has the authority to issue recalls for Cycling Accidents, and has in years past. When helmets fail to meet minimal requirements. Helmet issues may include the following defects:

• Lack of impact-resistant material
• Fastener defects
• Chin strap defects
• Cheap materials
• Reflector defects
• Inadequate warnings

Helmet Defect Lawsuits

In successful helmet defect lawsuits, plaintiffs have alleged that manufacturing or design defects have directly lead to severe head and neck injuries. There is a consensus among safety experts that products that do not conform with federal standards should be kept off the market.

It is usually assumed by consumers that buying and wearing a helmet protects them from a potential accident, though that is unfortunately not the case. Following a bike crash or a serious sports injury, it is crucial to preserve evidence and contact a product liability lawyer.