The Size of Your Car Affects Your Injuries In An Accident
Recently, a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that women drive smaller, lighter vehicles more frequently than men. The report shows that women’s choice of these vehicles plays a large role in women suffering more serious injuries in accidents than men.
The IIHS research study looked at various factors to determine if women’s body size or type was a factor in the extent of women’s injuries after an accident, or whether perhaps there was gender bias present in the research study. After analyzing the injuries of both men and women in police reported front and side crashes from 1998 to 2015, the study found that in front crashes, women were more than 3 times likely to suffer a broken bone, concussion, or other moderate injury. Women were also twice as likely as men to suffer a serious injury like a collapsed lung or traumatic brain injury.
The study found that men and women crashed in minivan and SUVs almost equally. However, around 70% of women crashed in cars, whereas only 60% of men suffered crashes in cars. More than 20% of men were in pickups when they crashed, whereas only 5% of women had reportable crashes in pickup trucks. According to the study, men were more likely to be the cause of rear and side crashes.
To sum it all up, the study found:
- Women more frequently drive smaller, lighter cars than men
- Women are more likely than men to be driving a car that gets hit in a collision
- Concerning injuries, women experience broken bones, concussions, or other moderate injuries in car accidents 3 times more frequently than men; women are 2 times more likely than men to suffer a serious injury.
How Long Can I Wait to Call a Lawyer?
When you’re injured in an auto accident in Virginia or West Virginia, you must be aware of the statute of limitations which applies in your particular case. The statute of limitations refers to the time you have following an accident to file a lawsuit. In both Virginia and West Virginia, this time limit depends upon the circumstances of your accident and injury. The time limitation starts to run on the date of the accident. Filing a claim with an insurance company does not extend or delay the time.
The longer you wait to contact an attorney, the greater the risk that the statute of limitations time limit will expire. If it does, you may lose your right to sue the at-fault party and recover compensation for your injuries. If you’ve been seriously injured and someone else is at fault, you should contact a personal injury attorney at the earliest possible time. Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer early in your case will help prevent deadlines from expiring and will allow your case to be properly prepared.
To be able to determine whether you have a case, your lawyer needs to thoroughly investigate the details about your accident and injuries. Investigating the accident and collecting information is much easier if it occurs quickly after the accident has happened. A time delay can result in many problems like lost evidence and witnesses who can’t be found.
When you hire a lawyer to handle your car accident claim, he or she will first negotiate with the insurance company to try to settle your claim. If settlement negotiations break down, your attorney will prepare to file a lawsuit and prepare your case for trial. For this reason, it is especially important that you get an experienced lawyer to help with your case, such as one certified through the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Talk With A Virginia And West Virginia Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered significant injuries in a car accident in Virginia or West Virginia, Ritchie Law Firm is here to help. The experienced, certified attorneys at the Ritchie Law Firm has helped thousands of injured victims and their families recover the compensation they deserve after an accident. Contact us by phone at 800-277-6124 or by using our online contact form.
Ritchie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm devoted to helping individuals who have suffered serious and catastrophic injuries or lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence. Ritchie Law Firm serves all of Virginia, while helping clients in cities and surrounding areas of Winchester, Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, and Staunton, and also serves clients in West Virginia, including Martinsburg, WV.
