It might seem obvious that after an accident with a small and large vehicle, the damage and injuries sustained by the individuals in the larger vehicle are going to be lighter than the small vehicle and its occupants. Today, there are more SUVs on the road, whether this is because of trends and preference or due to the need for larger vehicles for larger families, you’ll see them everywhere. But are SUVs really that much safer than sedans, hatchbacks and other vehicles?
A car accident lawyer will tell you that you can’t solely rely on a vehicle for your safety, however, there are some vehicles that can withstand more damage than others. We have written this blog to compare SUVs with other types of automobiles to determine if they are safer and if so, by how much. Here is what we found.
It All Comes Down to Crash Ratings
Crash-test ratings help determine how safe a vehicle is in the event of an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducts crash tests on all new vehicles, rating their performance anywhere from one to five in their five-star rating program. Everything from frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover accident situations are tested in these evaluations, as well as safety technologies. Some of these new safety technologies include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, dynamic brake support (brake assist), and automatic emergency braking. So, while SUVs might be safer due to their size, it also depends on the type of accident and the model’s crash-rating.
Head on Collisions
A study by the NHTSA found that the odds of death were 7.6 times higher for sedan drivers than SUV drivers. A car accident lawyer might see various cases where the driver of a sedan is more likely to require legal assistance when it comes to personal injury or wrongful death.
While SUVs might be safer due to their size, that doesn’t mean that smaller cars are unsafe. As mentioned before, it all depends on the crash-test ratings. When looking for a new vehicle, a car accident lawyer might advise you to do your research on your options and choose the vehicle which is going to provide you and your family with the most safety features.
As always, if you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident, contact a car accident lawyer here at Robert J. DeBry and Associates. Our team of licensed attorneys will help you get the compensation that you deserve for any injuries, lost wages and damages.