Nobody knows that better than a pair of Eden Prairie motorcycle salesman, who are being praised for saving a customer's life by insisting minutes before he crashed that he wear a helmet. Ryan Degroote and Dave Grimme sold the man a motorcycle in May, but the helmet the customer purchased was on backorder. Degroote and Grimme told KMSP that the customer was planning to ride off without a helmet, but they insisted he use one of theirs.

"I said if they don't have one for you, I've got three of them sitting back here you can use one of my personal ones," Grimme told KMSP. "I'd rather you have a helmet on if you're going to take a ride."

That helmet saved the man's life. After leaving the dealership, he crashed, flying over the handlebars and hitting his head. The crash easily could have been fatal.

Hitting your head can be dangerous at any speed, according to our Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center (MMSC) Coordinator Jay Bock. You don't have to be going over 50 mph; slow speeds can be just as fatal.

“Wearing a helmet doesn't make you invincible, and it won't make up for unsafe riding practices," Bock said. “But it increases your survivability. Statistics tell us that between 35 and 40 percent of those who died without a helmet would likely have survived the crash with a helmet."

This year has been particularly deadly for motorcyclists. As of Friday, 29 motorcyclists have died so far this year. Of the 29, at least 16 were not wearing a helmet. None of the three who were killed over the July Fourth holiday weekend were wearing their helmets, including a passenger.

We know the majority of crashes occur within three to five miles of your home, so even if you're only going a few miles or just running errands, you could still experience a crash. The best way to protect yourself is to always wear your helmet.

“It's not just about you; it's also about those who love you," Bock said. “You owe it to them to live a long life. The best way to do that is to always ride with a helmet on."

Bock recommends a properly fitted DOT-approved, full-face helmet. Learn more about how proper gear can save your life on the ​MMSC website.