Hundreds suffer permanent brain damage.
Most of these head injuries can be prevented if people just wore helmets. Helmet types There are two basic helmet types, hard shell and soft shell. Hard shells are preferable over soft shelled helmets 'cuz when a hard shelled helmet hits rough ground it will skid rather than catch on the ground - which could possible break your neck. If you have a crash and your helmet takes a significant hit, replace it right away. An impact can damage a helmet's foam core, meaning that it may not protect you as well as a new helmet could.