I too almost died in a wreck a few years ago... Here's my story, hope it helps you guys.

True story. Got hit by a car in a freak accident, flipped over my bars, hit his hood, then connected with the ground on my shoulder and head, leaving a nasty cut and bruise. I wasn't wearing any protective gear, yet I didn't die. The doctor told me that if I was wearing my helmet he's certain it would have cracked, as that's what they're designed to do.

Ok, he didn't say that, but come on guys. Every time one of you gets in an accident and hits your head it's all "omg, if i wasn't wearing my helmet I definitely wouldn't be here right now!" I know first hand it is a traumatic experience, but let's lay off the hyperbole please.

Helmets are designed to disperse the energy of an impact so as to reduce the speed at which your brain hits the inside of your skull, which is what actually kills you in a traumatic head injury you'd expect to see in a serious cycling accident. However, the speed at which they reduce that impact is by many accounts negligible. Different helmet designs perform differently of course, but if you're a cyclist who generally rides at faster than average speeds and you go out and buy the latest giro ultralight racing helmet with the expectation that it'll do much more than provide you a sense of security and protection from non-life-threating head injuries, you're probably fooling yourself.

That said, I hope you'll continue to bike safely, whatever that may mean to you.