Chicago Accident and Injury Lawyer Blog

A new study in the upcoming December issue of the American Journal of Public Health found that "women drivers are injured more frequently in accidents than their male counterparts." The Chicago personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll found it interesting that the study did not find that the injuries occurred more often because women cause more automobile collisions; instead, the study found women are more vulnerable to injury in car crashes due to the fact that safety features currently available in vehicles are not "tailored to protect" women. The study further found that female drivers and passengers seem to be more vulnerable than men to injury when involved in moderate and serious crashes, with a higher risk of chest and spinal cord injuries, due to shorter stature and seating posture. Even safety seat belts failed to prevent serious injury. In fact, "female drivers using a seatbelt where 47 percent more likely to be injured" than a male driver in similar crashes.

What can women do to protect themselves? Here are some good tips:

• Take time to research Consumer Reports to find the best car to suit your needs. Consumer Reports considers a driver's height in its reviews, as well as many other factors.

• To prevent injuries from air bags, drivers should sit with their chest approximately 10 inches away from the center of the steering wheel. For drivers of older cars, who cannot get 10 inches away from the steer wheel, invest in pedal extenders or an airbag on/off switch. Pregnant women in the late stages of pregnancies, who cannot get their abdomens far away enough from the steering wheel, should avoid driving whenever possible. See the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for more tips.

• Make sure your seatbelt fits comfortably and securely.

The Illinois legislature recently amended the Illinois seat belt law, 625 ILCS 5/12-603.1, requiring all drivers and passengers, regardless of whether they are in the front or back of the vehicle, to wear a seat belt or face a fine starting at $25.00. Police officers will have the authority to stop a vehicle if they notice a passenger is not wearing a seat belt in the back seat. Children under the age of 8 years old must be protected in the proper child restraint system, including a child car set or booster seat, pursuant to the Child Passenger Protection Act, 625 ILCS 25/1, et seq. (2011). The new law takes effect on January 1, 2012.