I used to ride a motorcycle. But, like many a new father before me, the smart decision was to sell the bike so we could buy a bigger vehicle to haul the new baby and all of her stuff.

When I rode, I almost always wore a helmet. I say almost because there were a few occasions when I just forgot to put it on. There were also a few occasions when I was riding with a girl, like my wife Crystal, who didn't want to wear one, or have one to wear. Those occasions were stupid of me. I should not have rode, nor taken on a passenger without one.

Jim and Sue, my wife's parents who live near Prinsburg, Minnesota, started riding a few years ago. Jim decided he wanted to get a bike, a Harley-Davidson Ultra. Sue, not the type to ride pillion forever, then decided she wanted her own and got a Heritage Softail. Not the bike I would have guessed, but it definitely suits her.

The 4th of July in 2015 will be remembered forever in Crystal's family. We just finished eating when we got the call. Sue is in the hospital in Willmar after a motorcycle accident. We were all instantly worried and scared. But one thing took the edge off of the worry, at least for Crystal and me - we knew she was wearing a helmet.

The human body is fragile. Sue is proof of this. She has some road rash, a busted up left shoulder, badly broken right arm, broken femur, broken pelvis, and her right leg was shattered so badly I still don't quite comprehend it. She will have at least six surgeries, possibly more. We have no idea how long she will be hospitalized.

Motorcycle helmets are not fragile. They're made to be tough to protect your skull and brain from impact. They aren't perfect and can't stop all injuries, but they can absolutely save lives. Sue's helmet appears mostly unscathed after the accident. As I inspected it back at the house I was surprised how barely scratched up it was. Then I found it has a really nasty gouge on the lower left side toward the back; the spot where her head hit the pavement. She was traveling at around 55 miles per hour. At that speed she probably would have fractured her skull and had a catastrophic brain injury.

It's not coincidence that the best protected part of her body is the one that is in the best shape. No other gear would have prevented the other injuries, but her helmet perfectly protected the part of her body that makes the rest of them go.

So if you ride a motorcycle, wear your damn helmet.

More From Hot 104.7 - KKLS-FM