What percentage of fatal bicycle crashes are due to cranial injury?

• A. 60%
• B. 70%
• C. 80%
• D. 90%

Answer: (C)

Head trauma is the leading cause of death in bicycle crashes. When a rider falls or collides, the head often takes the brunt of the impact, and the brain is highly vulnerable to blunt trauma and rotational forces. Because of this, cranial injuries account for a large majority of fatalities—about 80% in many studies. Helmets help because they absorb and spread out impact energy and reduce angular forces on the brain, which greatly lowers the risk of fatal head injury. Other injuries can be serious, but they are less likely to be the single fatal mechanism compared with head injuries.