Recovering from a car accident is hard on anyone. Yet, women still face challenges that are often overlooked by people who are planning for their recovery. Taking a look at the unique challenges women face in their car accident recovery can help you plan for your care or provide support to a loved one.
Exploring Why Women Tend to Experience More Severe Injuries
Women who are wearing their seatbelts during a car accident are still 17% more likely to experience life-threatening injuries compared to men in the same scenario. One well-known reason for this is that crash test dummies in the past tended to represent the size of an average male. Since women often have smaller statures and other unique aspects of their anatomy, the crash tests didn’t reflect how a scenario would impact them.
Currently, researchers are still trying to identify reasons why women tend to experience more severe injuries. For instance, it’s possible that the types of cars women choose place them at higher risk. Or, the fact that men tend to be the at-fault driver in crashes, which lowers their risk of severe injuries. While everyone waits for new safety updates that protect women, just knowing that you are at higher risk for severe injuries can serve as motivation to plan for a possible recovery.
Understanding the Impact of Osteoporosis on Injury Recovery
Older women who are occupying a vehicle are also more at risk for having severe injuries due to health conditions such as osteoporosis that weaken bone structure. Naturally, having osteoporosis makes it more likely that you could experience a spinal fracture rather than a muscle strain after whiplash during an accident that puts extreme force on your body.
Unfortunately, this health condition could also require you to have more extensive forms of treatment to help you recover. Additionally, fractures may take more time to heal when your bones are already in a weakened state.
Making Sure Women’s Concerns Receive Medical Attention
The disparities between men and women also extend beyond the crash testing centers. Women also tend to have a 30-minute longer wait in medical facilities compared to men, and their pain is more likely to be dismissed by healthcare providers.
If you are a woman and experience an accident, then it is important to know that pain and suffering are often a part of car accident injury compensation. If you find that a healthcare provider isn’t taking you seriously, then you also have the right to see a different professional for care.
Planning for Practical Needs During Recovery
Around 60% of caregivers are women, and the number increases when it comes to caring for someone with dementia. Women who are caregivers often face the challenge of identifying safe resources for finding someone to care for their children, spouses or senior parents while they go to physical therapy.
Depending on your situation, these costs might also be included in your car accident claim, especially when they impact your ability to attend physical therapy appointments on a regular basis. Having funds to cover the cost of a caregiver for your loved ones also makes it less likely that you’ll face setbacks in your recovery.
While women face unique challenges with their car accident recoveries, it is also important to remember that they are resilient and resourceful. Building a network of support during this time can help you or your loved one overcome any challenge to ensure that you have the best chances of recovery. Once the immediate aftermath of a car accident clears, begin connecting with legal providers, physicians and other resources that can guide you through the next steps of recovering from an injury.
