This year, a landmark study came out from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that found that women are at a higher risk of being killed or severely injured in car crashes.
In the Mid-Hudson Valley, however, local statistics show that men go to the emergency department with personal injuries from car accidents more than women.
In Ulster County, over a recent three-year period, men went to the emergency room a total of 5,150 times with car accident personal injuries, while 4,433 women went during the same time. Men also had more expensive injuries; their medical costs averaged close to $5,000, while women’s injuries averaged closer to $4,000. There were similar numbers in Dutchess County.
So what gives? The reason is that while men get into more car accidents, when it comes to crashes of the same severity, women statistically tend to get more seriously injured than men.
According to the study, the disparity has nothing to do with physical differences; it’s about the kinds of cars women statistically tend to drive, and the circumstances of their crashes.
When it came to vehicle choice, men and women had accidents in SUVs and minivans in roughly equal numbers, but more women crashed in cars than men did. More men crashed in pickups, compared with less than 5 percent of women. In general, men in the study tended to crash in heavier cars, which correlates to having more protection in crashes.
Additionally, the study shows that men are statistically more likely to be driving the “striking” vehicle that causes the crash, which correlates to fewer injuries.
What factors affect car accident settlements?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident and are seeking compensation for your losses and injuries, there are a number of factors that affect how much you may be awarded.
They include:
- How much you contributed to the accident occurring
- How much proof you have that you were the victim
- How quickly and comprehensively you received medical diagnosis and treatment
- If you were permanently or partially disfigured or disabled
- The total amount of your medical bills and lost wages
- If your future earning ability was impacted
- If you are the head of a household and have non-economic duties that may be impacted
To learn more about car accident settlements, give us a call at 845-600-0000. We are experienced personal injury attorneys, and we offer free consultations at our offices in Kingston, NY and Poughkeepsie.