Nope - a few years ago I hit a pothole and did spectacular header. My helmet (a Specialized Prevail) was rather crunched, but my head was just fine. I took the old one with me when I went to get a new one, as I heard sometimes they like to study helmet damage. They certainly didn't give or even offer me a new one free... I still had to pay the whole $180 - but considering that I walked away with just a slight headache, I'm not complaining.