Are you shocked to learn that women are 73% more likely to suffer a catastrophic injury or death in a car accident compared to a man? Today we will get into some of the reasons for this huge gap. If you or a loved one has suffered this type of accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas today at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
The Crash Test Dummies Are a Piece of the Puzzle
One of the biggest issues is that car companies often use crash test dummies to test how safe their vehicles are. Based on the results of those tests, they then make chances to optimize safety. This seems great on the surface but there is one major problem: The vast majority of crash test dummies are based on an average man’s body – which means they can only show what would likely happen to a man in the accidents they test.
Even when they do use “female” test dummies, those female bodies are five feet tall and weight 110 pounds. That is far from the average size or height of women, which means only certain women are protected – even in the rare instance that female dummies are tested at all.
Men and Women’s Bodies Are Different in Critical Ways
As far as biology goes, men and women’s bodies are simply different – and in some critical ways. Generally speaking, the average woman’s body is more fragile than the average man’s body. Men tend to carry more weight (i.e. protection) around their midsections, while women tend to carry more weight around their thighs and waist. This difference makes a big impact when it comes to how well a seatbelt can save a life.
This is why when you consider all men and women who wear seatbelts, a woman is 50% more likely to suffer a serious injury or death. Other factors include the proximity of the steering wheel for either gender, the way women generally sit versus the way men sit, and even hormonal responses to injury. There are no crash tests that currently account for these issues.
Recent Cars Are Safer Than Older Vehicles
The good news is that there are changes. There are new options on the table as to how to test vehicles, and there has long been a discussion about how to use the data from these tests to build cars that are safer for everyone. The experts say that if you are in a vehicle that was built in the last ten years, you are 50% less likely to be involved in a serious accident.
Have you been injured in an accident? Have you suffered the loss of a loved one after they were involved in a car accident? If so, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will carefully consider the situation and look for the best possible outcome for you.
