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The results of a recent study released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that the majority of those seriously injured in car accidents are women drivers. It is not because of any physical attribute or driving habit women exhibit, but the types of vehicles women tend to drive. According to the IIHS study, females are not more likely to cause car accidents, but they are more likely to be seriously injured in them. Furthermore, men are in more fatal crashes than women, but women are 20 to 28 percent more likely to be killed per-crash.
The results of the study point to the type of car women drive as a deciding factor. According to the study, women are more likely to drive smaller, more compact vehicles compared to men. Men are more likely to drive bigger SUVs or trucks. The study showed that among all examined car crashes, 20 percent of men were driving pickup trucks, while only five percent of women were driving pickups or something similar.
The smaller vehicles may have the same or more safety equipment as larger vehicles, but it is the greater size and weight the larger vehicles provide that subdue impact. In other words, the damage is greater for a four-door sedan being struck from the side than it would be for a pickup truck. Although women are seemingly more likely to suffer a severe injury, they are also three times more likely to suffer a moderate injury. An example of a moderate injury is a concussion.
Those that are injured in an accident can seek coverage of their damages through their own car insurance. The personal injury protection (PIP) coverage will have a certain limit. In Delaware, an injured victim can also seek damages from an at-fault party in the form of a personal injury lawsuit. Most personal injury claims in Delaware involve car accidents. Personal injury claims likely involve medical bills. Even if a victim’s medical bills have been covered by their own insurance, they can still seek further coverage, including future medical bills.
It is important to note that Delaware applies comparative negligence, if the injured party is found by the court to be partially liable for their injury, their compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault that they shared. Also, the victim cannot be found to be more than 50 percent at fault for their injury; if they are, they cannot recover any damages. Since a victim needs to show the other party is at fault, they should speak to a car accident lawyer for help.
Although women are statistically more likely to suffer a serious injury in a car accident, both men and women are still in equal danger. If you have a car accident injury, a Wilmington car accident lawyer at Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A. can protect your rights. Call us at 302-656-5445 or complete our online form for a free consultation. Located in Wilmington and Millsboro, Delaware, we proudly serve clients throughout Dover, New Castle County, and Sussex County.