It’s universally accepted that wearing a seat belt dramatically reduces the risk of serious injury in the event of a car accident. However, the level of protection a seat belt provides might be different depending if you are a man or a woman. According to a recent study by the American Journal of Public Health, women who wear seat belts are 47 percent more likely to be injured in an auto accident than men who wear seat belts.

The report suggests that the reason for such disproportionate statistics for men and women has partly to do with the “one-size-fits-all” design of auto safety systems between 1998 and 2008, the years included in the study. Because women tend to be shorter and lighter, they receive different levels of protection from seat belts, air bags and other safety systems than men. The study also determined that other factors, such as differences in driving posture, can affect the likelihood of injuries in the event of a car crash for women.

However, as the study only includes auto accident statistics between 1998 and 2008, it doesn’t factor in recent advancements in safety system design. For instance, many vehicles built after 2007 feature dual-depth and duel-stage driver and passenger air bags, which deploy at difference speeds and levels of force depending on seat belt usage, seat position and the severity of the impact. A study that includes statistics from the last few years may not show as large of a disparity in injury likelihood.

That said, women driving and riding in older vehicles without advanced air bags should be aware of the greater risk of injury.

Whether man, woman or child, if you’re suffering from injuries you received in an auto accident, you might be entitled to compensation under the law. The auto accident attorneys at Skousen, Gulbrandsen and Patience, a Mesa personal injury law firm, can help assess your case and how to go about getting you the most equitable settlement possible. For a free initial legal consultation, contact us today.