The Real Motorcycle Crash Killer
In almost twice as many instances, the injury is caused by indirect force, where damage results not from the impact itself but from the rapid rotation of the head it triggers. Indeed, in more than 10 percent of cases, the injury occurs on the opposite side of the head to the site of the impact. In these cases, shock-absorption alone isn't sufficient.
No matter how good your motorcycle helmet is at absorbing impact energy, it might not save you from harm. Some helmet manufacturers are now including new anti-rotation technology into there helmet designs.
In the critical moments after a head impact, when your helmet deflects off the surface it has hit, your skull – to which your helmet clings – moves suddenly and extremely rapidly. Your brain, inside, is forced to shift further and faster than nature ever intended, with a G-force that shocked all scientists. This often causes shearing and tearing of nerves and blood vessels in the brain, which may result in untreatable swelling and bleeding.