Scooter, bicycle and skateboard riders who don’t wear a protective helmet aren’t only much more likely to be injured but also run the risk of losing substantial compensation benefits if they are seriously hurt in an accident, says a senior solicitor with Keddies Lawyers. Peter Clarke, one of Keddies’ senior specialists in personal injury law, said while most parents understood the importance of protective gear to prevent injury, few realized it is also vital in ensuring proper compensation is achievable if an insurance claim is made. “It’s no big surprise that the most likely cause of serious injury in young people on bikes or the large variety of scooter-style vehicles now available was head trauma often caused by riders not wearing a helmet,” Mr Clarke said. “If the injury involved a motor vehicle and an insurance claim was pursued, the first thing the insurance company will do is check whether the person injured took reasonable steps to protect themselves - most importantly, whether any helmet was being worn. If the answer is ‘No’, up to 25% is immediately taken off the potential compensation payout.” “When that compensation is needed to cover for loss of income or any ongoing care, that significant reduction in the payout can make things very difficult for the family involved,” he said. Mr Clarke said Keddies Lawyers had represented a large number of people injured in bicycle and scooter accidents over many years but, despite the increasing number of scooter style products now being ridden, it wasn’t possible to say whether that type of accident was significantly on the increase.