A friend was nearly killed last year when a Turkey buzzard hit him full on in the face while riding.
He was approaching some road kill being picked over by a pair of buzzards. A van going the opposite way spooked the birds and one caught in the slip stream of the van ended up hitting my friend who was going about 50.
The buzzard didn’t make it. My friend was bleeding all over his face. He kept control of the bike but does not remember stopping or how he managed after being hit. He had on a helmet.
A doctor in our office helps to write DOT specs for helmets and said he was lucky to be alive. A full face helmet would have killed him he said.
A reminder to other bikers from my doctor buddy. After any impact involving your helmet is the time to trash it. The foam inside will deform making it not as effective for the next crash.
Wow..poor guy! He was definitely lucky....
Yes, i’ve heard that you should always replace a helmet after a significant impact (struck by heavy object,bird strike,accident,etc.).