Obesity, according to the findings of a recent study, might raise your chances of dying in a car accident. The Safe Transportation and Research Center at the University of California Berkeley conducted the study, which used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What the study says
The researchers looked at thousands of incidents and used driver’s license data to determine the drivers’ BMI and categorize the accidents into four categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese.
The researchers discovered that underweight, overweight, and normal weight drivers all died at roughly the same rate after controlling for other factors that can affect the severity of car accident injuries, such as vehicle size, type of collision, driver sex, time of the accident, alcohol use, seatbelt use, and air bag deployment. Obese drivers, on the other hand, had a greater mortality rate.
The higher the chance of mortality, the more obese the drivers were. Drivers with a BMI of 30 to 34.9% were 21 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal accident. Drivers with a BMI of 35 to 39.9 were 51 percent more likely to die in a vehicle collision, while those with a BMI of above 40 were 81 percent more likely.
Car safety features provide insufficient protection
Wearing a seatbelt or having adequate airbag deployment did not reduce the chance of mortality among obese drivers, according to the study. This is most likely due to the fact that these kind of safety measures are intended for people of average weight.
Given that 36.5 percent of individuals in the United States are overweight, existing seatbelt and airbag designs may not effectively protect a substantial percentage of the population.
What to do if a loved one is killed in a car accident
It doesn’t matter what their BMI was if you lost a loved one in a tragic vehicle accident. What matters is how the accident occurred and who bears responsibility. You and other close family members may be able to collect considerable compensation for wrongful death losses such as medical expenses, lost financial assistance, lost household services, and lost love, companionship, and direction if the tragedy was caused by someone else’s carelessness.
You should contact an expert automobile accident lawyer as soon as possible to preserve important evidence in the case and provide your family the greatest possible opportunity of receiving full and fair compensation. Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas is a fantastic option. We have the expertise and experience needed to make your claim a success and maximize your compensation. Call us right now at 909-982-0707 to schedule a free first consultation.
