Snell certified motorcycle helmets are well-built and have saved the lives of many motorcyclists. However, that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible. In fact, they’re intended for use as throw-away products. That is, you should retire them after they’ve been through one motorcycle accident. Although the outer shell is subjected to high impact forces and friction during an accident, the real damage occurs to the interior foam, which absorbs impact energy by deforming. Without this “give,” the impact shock wave would be transmitted directly to your head. The problem is that after.