If you have ever been involved in a vehicle accident, you know that it can have a significant toll on your life. You might be unable to return to work or live a life as you did prior to the accident. Losing a loved one in a motor vehicle accident in San Diego is one of the most unfortunate and traumatic events that an individual can experience. However, research into the types of things that cause car accidents and the kind of individuals injured in them reveals the gender imbalance with regard to safety features; meaning that women may be at risk for more crash-related injuries or fatalities.

A new Atlantic article highlights the automotive safety standards and mentions that it wasn’t until just a few years ago that automakers regularly began using female sized crash dummies in driver’s seat. Vehicle accidents can lead to significant injuries and complications for all victims.

Cars were not tested to be safe for women’s bodies. For more than 60 years, car manufacturers used only male test dummies when putting together vehicles. Meaning that the physical features of the male body were the only representation for all passengers when it came to safety. In 2003, however, female crash test dummies were first used. One San Diego State University Injury Prevention Director stated that this primarily had to do with the fact that the most designers and manufacturers were all men and it might not have occurred to them that they would be designing for anyone other than themselves. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that the fatality risks for women in vehicle accidents are 13.4% higher than men for accidents involving the same vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety identifies that men are more likely to be involved in vehicle accidents as a result of higher average mileage and their riskier driving behaviors, women are more likely to be injured or killed in crashes of equal severity.

Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that the fatality risks for women in vehicle accidents are 13.4% higher than men for accidents involving the same vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety identifies that men are more likely to be involved in vehicle accidents as a result of higher average mileage and their riskier driving behaviors, women are more likely to be injured or killed in crashes of equal severity.