A serious motor vehicle collision with a bicycle in Marietta this past summer left the bicyclist seriously injured and the Milton driver facing charges of DUI and hit and run. The force of the impact when the car crashed into the bicycle caused the bicycle rider to be ejected from the bicycle and suffer serious injuries.

The driver in the accident was female, which is somewhat ironic given a controversial new study that suggests that women are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents. In a study that is being condemned by women’s rights groups, these researchers believe that the disparaging phrase “woman driver” may actually have some empirical legitimacy despite the insensitivity of the comment.

The new study results conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan reveals that an inordinate number of motor vehicle collisions involve multiple drivers who are women. While the lead researcher on the study took pains to discourage the notion that women are somehow less safe as drivers, the study results are pretty compelling because men drive substantially more miles than women.

The study is based on data from 6.5 million auto accidents. Based on the gender breakdown of the drivers in the study, women were about 5 percent more likely to be involved in an accident and men were about 5 percent less than would be expected. The results indicate that for an equal number of men and women drivers women are 10 percent more likely to be involved in an Atlanta car wreck than men.

The researchers are understandably reluctant to draw too many conclusions regarding the statistical disparity at the risk of finding themselves in the eye of a tornado of fury from women’s rights groups. The researches do offer a couple of theories behind the unexpected results. Because in many households men drive a greater number of total miles, including when couples are traveling in the vehicle together, women may collectively have less driving experience.

Another theory to explain the statistical anomaly relates to the difference in height between men and women. Among the findings in the study were that women were particularly susceptible to being involved in intersection accidents. Women are frequently t-boned on the driver's side of their vehicle when executing a left turn or struck on the passenger’s side of the vehicle when executing a right turn. Because women are on average shorter than men, the researchers speculate that they may be more likely to be involved in an intersection collision because they may have a harder time seeing out of the windows of a vehicle. This issue has been complicated by new vehicle designs that typically include doors that come up higher before the glass begins.

It is hardly surprising that Ford Motor Co. and Consumer Reports took a pass when they were asked to comment on the study results. Hopefully, the data will be used to make constructive design improvements rather than be swept under the carpet because of its potential politically incorrect interpretation. It may be the case that vehicles need to be designed to increase visibility for those of smaller stature – men and women. Future research may address this issue and prevent Georgia car wrecks by making vehicle adaptations that may improve safety based on legitimate differences between men and women.

At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been fighting for the rights of those injured in Georgia auto accidents for over 27 years. Unfortunately, accidents like the recent Marietta bicycle accident that involve hit and run drivers or those driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) are not limited to any gender. Drivers that flee the scene of an accident because they are trying to avoid a DUI arrest needlessly put those with whom they share the Georgia roadways in jeapardy. Even if the other driver does not have insurance or enough insurance, if you have uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage under your own policy it may offer you protection. If you or someone you love has been injured or tragically killed in an accident with a drunk driver, Montlick and Associates may be able to help even if the driver fled the scene of the accident.

Our Georgia hit and run accident attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.

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