Women are more likely to suffer injury from a car crash, according to a study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention. In particular, women are 73% more likely to be injured in a front-end collision, the most common car crash, than men are. Drivers in New York should know that, while the study does not delve into reasons, there is one factor that can partially explain why this is so.
To arrive at their conclusion, researchers looked at nearly 23,000 front-end crashes that were reported in the U.S. between the years 1998 and 2015. They excluded any crashes that involved women more than three months pregnant or women who did not wear a three-point seatbelt. In addition, they categorized cars into those built before 2009 and those built during or after.
Newer model cars reduced the rate of injuries to the abdomen and lower extremities, among other areas. Yet it turns out that women are twice as likely as men to suffer lower-body injuries, specifically those the abdomen, legs and spine.
Crash tests rarely consider the physiological and anatomical differences of women. Most female crash test dummies are modeled on the male dummies with only a difference in size. This means safety measures and safety tech may not protect women as they do men.
Regardless of who is involved in a motor vehicle crash, there is the possibility of filing a personal injury claim and being covered for one’s economic and non-economic damages. New York being a no-fault state, only those who suffer serious, debilitating injuries can file a third-party insurance claim. If victims decide to go that route, they may want to speak with a lawyer, having him or her build up the case and then negotiate for a settlement out of court.