I am personal injury attorney Mike Lombardi. How can you protect your ears from noisy motorcycle helmets? It’s a well-known fact that motorcycle helmets save lives. But did you know that they are so noisy, they can actually do permanent damage to your ears?
Motorcycle Noise
A motorcycle engine can reach 95 decibels, enough to cause irreversible damage, if exposure to the noise lasts longer than 50 minutes. In this age of technology, it seems a little strange that no manufacturer has made a truly quiet helmet.
What is the cause of all that noise? It’s the wind, traffic, noise of the engine and the road that travels up into your ears. Scientific research, thus far, has not totally identified all of the factors as to why helmets don’t adequately reduce noise. But, a large part of it seems to be related to how well the helmet fits the rider’s head including the opening under the chin. So, while the scientists and the helmet manufacturers try to figure it all out what you can do to protect your hearing is the following.
Accessories
Fortunately, there are some things available, a thick, well-fitted neck roll along with a chin guard or a windjammer should help the noise by reducing the flow of air that enters the lid of the helmet. Make sure the lining and padding in the head and in the neck area fit your head well so the noise reduction will be maximized.
Helmets
Helmets with shields that seal tightly when closed are very important. The visor material should be thick and sturdy and the visor should press tightly against the rubber seal. A tight-fitting visor reduces noise like whistling. The same applies to air ducts and vents consider purchasing a single piece full-face helmet since it is quieter than a modular or a 3/4 model designed with additional opening and seals.
What To Avoid
Earplugs may seem the easiest and cheapest solution but they’re dangerous. You can’t hear traffic around you or alarms and horns or other sounds that could prevent the potential motorcycle accident. Keep in mind that a noisy helmet may protect you in a motorcycle accident but it could be the cause of one as well because you can’t hear everything that’s happening around you. Don’t skimp on the price, when it comes to purchasing a helmet and do your research on noise reduction helmets before you buy.
Unfortunately, accidents do happen even if you do everything right. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, please give me a call or text me at Mike Lombardi Injury Attorneys, so we can discuss your case. We want to help you in any way we can.
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