Female Crash Test Dummies Now Used in Car Safety Tests

New federal regulations require automakers to use female crash test dummies for front-end collision testing, starting with model year 2011 vehicles.

2012-10-20

October 20, 2012 (Press-News.org) Car accidents have the potential to cause very serious injuries. Although nothing can completely erase the risk of harm that comes with a crash, good vehicle design can go a long way to minimize the severity of crash victims' injuries.

Most people are probably aware that automobile manufacturers use crash-test dummies to measure the risk of injury in a car accident. These measurements are then translated into consumer safety ratings. However, many people may be surprised to learn that most of these safety rankings apply only to average-sized males. Until recently, automakers did not use "female" dummies in their crash scenarios.

This has just begun to change. New federal regulations require automakers to use female crash test dummies for front-end collision testing, starting with model year 2011 vehicles.

Automakers fought the regulation, arguing that it would be too costly to develop an entirely new mannequin. However, the disparate impact auto accidents have on female victims clearly demonstrates the need for better crash testing. When compared to an average-sized male, smaller women are more than three times as likely to suffer serious injuries in a collision.

Part of the risk comes from the fact that women's bodies are built differently than men's. Women have lower bone density, which makes them more susceptible to fractures and crush injuries. In addition, their necks are less muscular, increasing the risk of whiplash and disc trauma.

Women also have a higher risk of injury because of the way vehicles are designed. For example, airbags are designed to strike the average male in the chest. However, because women are smaller, the airbag often ends up striking them in the chin, causing their heads and necks to snap backwards. In addition, because women often sit closer to the steering wheel than men do, they are not as well-protected by the pillar between the front and back doors.

Crash-test ratings involving female mannequins are starting to become available, but most ratings still reflect the traditional male-modeled dummies. Women who are shopping for new vehicles would be wise to consult the female-specific ratings on safercar.gov before making a purchase.

New Mexico Car Accident Lawsuits

Even the safest car cannot prevent all injuries. In New Mexico, individuals who are injured in a car accident caused by another person's negligence have a right to seek compensation in a civil lawsuit. Accident victims may be entitled to recover financial damages for a number of losses including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and loss of future earning capacity.

It is not always simple to prove how victims' car accident injuries will affect their lives. As such, it is important for victims to enlist the help of an experienced attorney who can present their case in the most persuasive light. If you or a loved one has been injured in a New Mexico car accident, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you protect your rights.

Article provided by Davis Law Firm
Visit us at yournewmexicolawfirm.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

National Safety Groups Promote Construction Fall Prevention

2012-10-20

Construction zones are inherently dangerous, with job duties that often require working at extreme heights. Every year, 225 construction workers die and another 10,000 are injured in preventable falls. In 2010, 264 out of 774 total construction worker deaths were caused by falls. Now, several safety agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), have launched campaigns to prevent falls and construction worker deaths. Safety Groups Team Up for Construction Fall Safety OSHA, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ...

Possession of Child Pornography Sentences Often as Severe as Sexual Abuse

2012-10-20

The sexual abuse of children is a serious matter. Public discussion has most recently centered on the Penn State scandal as many within the media debate the proper punishment that should be served not only against Jerry Sandusky but against the university as well. While this discussion is taking up media attention, another related discussion is gaining momentum among legal and legislative professional communities. This controversial topic focuses on the fact that over the past 22 years federal sentences for the possession of child pornography have increased dramatically, ...

Uninformed Students Have Highest Risk of Credit Card Troubles

2012-10-20

There's no doubt about it, going to college is expensive. Between rent, food, books and the ever-increasing price of tuition, many Texas students find it hard to make ends meet. Since few students have the time to work as many hours as it would take to support themselves and still do well in school, many go into debt to pay the bills. When student loans don't provide enough support, they turn to credit cards. Although credit cards can be helpful for college students, they can also be very dangerous if not used carefully. A few mistakes or missed payments could start ...

More Employers Failing to Pay Proper Wages and Overtime in Florida

2012-10-20

American workers are filing more lawsuits against employers than ever before. In 2012, wage and hour lawsuits are the highest they have been in 20 years. As of March 31, 2012, there were 7,064 federal wage and hour cases filed compared to the 1,184 cases filed in 2000. What are Wage and Hour Lawsuits? The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Florida state's employment laws dictate an employee's rights, as well as the legal remedy to enforce those rights. For example, in Florida: - Workers must be paid a minimum wage of $7.67. - Employees who receive tips ...

State Farm Under Investigation for Texas Hurricane Ike Insurance Denials

2012-10-20

When you purchase insurance and pay your premiums every month, you expect that the insurance company will uphold its end of the bargain when a loss occurs. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Like all businesses, insurance companies are concerned about protecting their bottom lines. Sometimes, they try to save money by wrongfully denying valid claims. When it comes to dealing with insurance companies, small injustices happen every day. However, when a big event hits, it is much easier for insurance bad faith to be brought into the light. As a case in point, ...

Florida Man Fired for High Medicals Costs for Daughter's Cancer Treatments

2012-10-20

A Florida man has sued his employer for wrongful termination, claiming that he was fired, not for falsifying time sheet records, as the company claims, but because of his daughter's high medical costs. The case shows employees that it is possible to hold employers responsible for wrongful termination. Man Asserts He Was Fired Due to Daughter's High Medical Expenses The Palm Beach County man was fired at his job at a bank on the pretext that he falsified his timesheet. However, the man believes the real reason he was let go was the high cost of his late daughter's ...

Poor Crash Test Ratings Should Put Nevada Car Buyers on Alert

2012-10-20

Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) put 11 luxury vehicles through a new test called the small overlap test. The results were rather disturbing: Only two vehicles earned a "Good" rating and several rated "Poor", including at least one current IIHS "Top Pick" for safety. The IIHS Luxury Car Safety Tests The small overlap test evaluates a vehicle's ability to withstand an impact to the driver's side front corner. This is the type of motor vehicle accident can occur, for example, when a vehicle crashes into a telephone ...

Teen Lives Being Saved by New Licensing Programs

2012-10-20

Over the last 15 or so years, young people anxiously awaiting the freedom that comes with turning 16 years old and receiving a driver's license have seen the process of obtaining their licenses become longer and more restrictive. All 50 states now have graduated driver's license programs. The purpose of these licensing programs is to ensure that young drivers gain experience in the safest possible manner; often by restricting new drivers from driving late at night, ensuring an experienced driver is in the passenger seat, and limiting the number of passengers allowed ...

Chicago Police Say Odor of Marijuana Justified Search, Judge Not So Sure

2012-10-20

The right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures is one of the most important constitutional protections afforded to the American public. Among other things, this right means that police may not search your vehicle unless they have an objective and compelling reason to suspect that a crime has been committed. When police conduct a search that violates your right to be free from unreasonable searches, any evidence that is uncovered as a result cannot be used against you in court. All too often, police take note of strong odors of marijuana or some other drug ...

Burj Al Arab Unveils the New Home for its 40 Species of Exotic Fish

2012-10-20

Burj Al Arab, the World's Most Luxurious Hotel, recently unveiled its fully transformed aquarium, with an innovative decor and newly introduced exotic species of fish. The recently re-opened aquarium also boasts some of the most technically advanced underwater lighting, new artificial coral reefs and improved filtration systems. The fish tanks at the Dubai hotel are a captivating attraction for both guests and local visitors, with the resident marine biologists being highly commended for their great efforts in looking after its stock. Going beyond the standards usually ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Higher blood pressure in childhood linked to earlier death from heart disease in adulthood

AI helped older adults report accurate blood pressure readings at home

High blood pressure in childhood and premature cardiovascular disease mortality

Zidesamtinib shows durable responses in ROS1 TKI pre-treated NSCLC, including patients with CNS disease and ROS1 G2032R mutations

Crizotinib fails to improve disease-free survival in resected early-stage ALK+ NSCLC

Ivonescimab plus chemotherapy improves progression-free survival in patients with EGFR+ NSCLC following 3rd-generation EGFR-TKI therapy

FLAURA2 trial shows osimertinib plus chemotherapy improves overall survival in eGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC

Aumolertinib plus chemotherapy improves progression-free survival in NSCLC with EGFR and concomitant tumor suppressor genes: ACROSS 2 phase III study

New antibody-drug conjugate shows promising efficacy in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients

Iza-Bren in combination with osimertinib shows 100% response rate in EGFR-mutated NSCLC, phase II study finds

COMPEL study shows continuing osimertinib treatment through progression with the addition of chemotherapy improves progression-free survival in EGFR-mutated NSCLC