It even came away unscathed recently when you went over the bike's handlebars, but did you know that not replacing it may be setting you up for a potential head injury? The foam part of a helmet is made for one-time use, and after having been crushed, it is no longer as protective as it was, even if it still looks intact.

"If there has been any kind of severe impact to the helmet, whether from a fall or if you dropped it and it got run over, the helmet may be compromised," says Carey Bond, a sports training expert. If the helmet structure is cracked under the thin shell, it could spell trouble for your next accident. "When you've had a situation where it's received sharp impact and you're just curious about whether or not it's working, that's a good time to replace it," says Bond.

So, what if you have an old helmet that has suffered no scars? You don't necessarily need to change it, says Bond. However, with the advent of sleeker, stronger and safer helmet materials, you may want to stay on top of the latest helmets companies have to offer. According to Bond, "The main thing is keeping up with the technology that makes helmets more and more comfortable and safer."

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