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Women suffer more injuries in vehicle crashes

On Behalf of | Mar 30, 2023 | Car Accidents

A car crash in Maryland could leave the driver and other occupants suffering life-threatening injuries. Several factors contribute to how severe the injuries are, including whether or not someone wore a seatbelt or how the other vehicle hit them and their car. Still, women often suffer worse injuries than men in motor vehicle collisions.

Women and car crashes

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a study revealing that women are more likely to suffer injuries or be killed than men in a vehicle collision. This result is often the case even when men and women are in similar car accidents.

A closer examination of accident statistics points to several reasons. Research shows that 70% of women involved in collisions drove small passenger cars instead of larger models like pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. Smaller cars have smaller frames and might not offer adequate protection when hit by a larger model.

Further points about collisions

Research also reveals that men tend to drive more recklessly than women. While many would assume the reckless driver would be at greater risk of injury or death, that is not always the case. The reason is speeding, tailgating, intoxicated and other reckless drivers are more often the persons who cause motor vehicle accidents. The victims in a vehicle accident are at risk for suffering more harm, as may be the case when a speeding vehicle crashes into a car stopped at a red light.

The combination of dangerous driving practices and larger vehicles increases the potential for reckless drivers to hurt their victims. Women drivers are frequently the victims of such incidents, although the reckless driver could be a man or a woman. However, men are more likely than women to cause the crash. Regardless, a negligent driver could face civil claims for the harm they inflict.