They don't protect from the part where the car directly hits the rest of your body straight on, or the bike itself. Every single part that happens immediately a

They don't protect from the part where the car directly hits the rest of your body straight on, or the bike itself. Every single part that happens immediately after that - such as the fall, flying through the air, or what have you, the parts that always come afterwards - is where the helmet can provide life-saving protection.