As experienced personal injury attorneys practicing in Buffalo for many years, we have noted that when it comes to automobile accidents, we tend to represent more injured women than men. A recent study has found that this is not just a fluke seen only at our personal injury law firm, but a national trend.
This is not the first time this issue has been noted and studied. Previous studies, however, tended to focus on differences between men and women in driving technique to determine whether this could account for the increased risk to women. The current study, conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia and Navarra University in Spain, focused on vehicle design.
After examining ten years of data regarding motor vehicle accidents in the United States, the researchers found that the risk of serious injury to women is greater than men – and for some type of injuries, much greater – because car safety features tend to be designed with men in mind.
The researchers looked at similar accidents involving men and women and the injuries that resulted from the collision. According to the researcher’s article in the American Journal of Public Health, they found that the odds of a woman driver who is wearing a seatbelt suffering a serious injury is 47 percent higher than that of a belted male driver is a comparable automobile accident.
While there may multiple reasons for this discrepancy, the researchers noted that certain safety features tended to inadequately protect women. The position of head restraints, for example, tended to favor men and did not account for gender differences in the size and strength of the neck. Women also were found to be at greater risk of injuries to the legs because of they tend to be shorter than men. The researchers advocated for auto manufacturers to examine how safety features can be enhanced to offer better protection to women.
If you have suffered a serious injury in a car accident, we would be happy to answer your questions. Please feel free to call us at 716-542-5444.
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