Every person is at risk when they are in a crash. However, some people can be at a higher risk of severe injuries than others.
For instance, a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reveals that women are more likely to get hurt or killed in crashes than men in similar accidents. There are a couple of reasons for this, and understanding the risks can help you protect yourself.
Reasons why women are at higher risk
The study suggests that there are two primary reasons why women are more likely to be seriously hurt than men in crashes:
- Women are more likely to drive smaller cars, while men are more likely to drive large vehicles like trucks
- Women are less likely to be driving the striking vehicle in a crash
These factors put women at a higher risk of injuries because their vehicles may not provide as much protection and drivers who get hit tend to suffer more damage than the person driving the car that caused the accident.
It is worth noting that men are statistically more likely to engage in reckless driving behaviors and get in crashes. And more men are injured and killed in accidents compared to women. But in collisions of the same severity, women have a higher risk of getting hurt.
Protecting yourself
No matter what your gender is, there are ways to protect yourself from a serious motor vehicle accident and minimize the severity of your injuries should someone else hit you.
The most important thing you can do to avoid a crash is to practice safe driving. This means refraining from driving while drunk, distracted or drowsy. You should also always wear your seat belt and obey traffic laws.
Unfortunately, not everyone takes these same precautions. Thus, to protect yourself from other road users, consider the next car you buy carefully. Safety features are more advanced than ever, but studies show that larger, heavier vehicles protect passengers better than smaller cars. These can be critical things to consider when it comes to buying a car.
You can also protect yourself by pursuing legal action and financial compensation after getting hurt in a crash. To explore your options, you can reach out to the attorneys at The Quinn Law Firm by calling.
