Wow , I must have missed something since I didn't know you crashed that bad. I have seen interviews with some doctors and seen some statistics on the damage a helmet does to the neck and back in a rapid deceleration. I would imagine you would have been much worse but as you say there is no way to know for sure. I have never claimed that helmets don't prevent some head injuries or facial injuries if a full face is worn. I have seen crashes where a helmet would have matter one way or the other. I saw a guy have a head on with a pick up pulling a fertilizer wagon and he went under it. The guy lived for a short time but dies at the scene. He was wearing full leathers and a full face helmet and is still just as dead. I saw this out of my school bus window when I was a kid and it was bad.

Hope you have a full recovery there Kevin and put on many more miles.

I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!