Women More at Risk of Injury and Death in Car Crashes Than Men

A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds that women are at a higher risk than men for injury or death in car crashes of equal severity. The findings from this study were of interest, as these higher risks are not due to the physiological differences between men and women, but rather the differences in the vehicles many women drive and the circumstances of the crashes in which they are involved.

Safety experts have often pointed to the lack of crash test dummies representing the average female body, noting that most car and truck safety systems are designed for men’s bodies. However, this recent IIHS research shows that women’s heightened risk of injury in car crashes may also come from the type of car they are driving and the type of accident in which they are involved.

What the study revealed

For the research, IIHS studied injuries to men and women from front and side tow-away crashes between the years 1998 to 2015. The report, released on February 11, reveals that women are 20 to 28 percent more likely than men to die in a car crash, and are 37 to 73 percent more likely to be seriously injured. They also found that women are three times more likely to suffer a concussion or broken bone, and twice as likely to experience serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries or collapsed lungs.

However, researchers found that this difference was not due to physical differences between men and women, but more due to differences in driving behaviors and vehicles. For example, women tend to be the “struck” vehicle rather than the “striking” vehicle, and women also tend to drive smaller and lighter cars. Jessica Jermakian, one of the study’s authors, did note that women do tend to suffer more leg injuries in collisions and that the IIHS plans to investigate this issue in more detail.

“The good news is that changes like strengthening the occupant compartment and improving seat belts and airbags have helped protect both men and women,” she said. “Homing in on the risk disparities that still exist in compatible crashes gives us a great opportunity to make further gains.”

How you can protect yourself from car crash injuries

The good news is that you can lessen your risk of injury by ensuring your vehicle is safe. As Jermakian points out, “The numbers indicate that women more often drive smaller, lighter cars and that they’re more likely than men to be driving the struck vehicle in side-impact and front-into-rear crashes.” The IIHS offers a list of vehicles with top safety ratings for crashworthiness and crash avoidance.

If you or a loved one were injured in a car or truck crash, talk to the injury attorneys at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. today. We take on other negligent drivers or car manufacturers when they cause other people injury and hold them responsible. To schedule a free consultation about your case, give our Maryland offices a call today at 410-730-7737 or use our contact form.