Are Cars Safer Than Suvs – If you have been involved in an SUV or car accident in the Tampa Bay area, call a Tampa personal injury attorney Martin J. Hernandez at 813-755-9500.
As a Tampa injury attorney I always say “in the battle of the bulge” the bigger vehicle wins. But does this mean it is safe? Does this mean that an SUV is safer than a car in case of an accident? People usually compare crash test ratings when buying a new car. Whether from the government or the insurance industry, crash test results provide valuable information about the safety of car occupants. But it gives a complete picture.
Are Cars Safer Than Suvs
For example, the head-on crash score simulates a collision with a similarly sized vehicle. What happens when you collide with a large, heavy or tall vehicle? The results of a new study presented by researchers at the University at Buffalo reveal the impact of your decision to buy a car.
Are Small Cars Safe?
While the laws of physics dictate that in a crash between mismatched vehicles, the lighter one will suffer the impact, but this study shows just how unequal the competition is. Yes, usually the bigger wins, but there’s more to it.
Many families who choose an SUV instead of a sedan do so because they feel it is safer to ride higher. And according to a recent study, SUVs were found to be safer than sedans. In fact, the driver or passenger of an SUV is at least 50% more likely to survive a car crash without serious injury than someone traveling in a sedan.
Studies have shown that sedans are safer in a crash than two sedans of the same size. That doesn’t seem to be the case with SUVs. Even if they are comparable in size, they can crush each other. This in turn is likely to lead to more catastrophic injuries.
The researchers note that SUVs are especially well equipped to protect children. Unlike vans, which are lighter and have a lower center of gravity, SUVs are taller and stiffer to handle bumps. This is especially important because SUVs are more likely to be involved in accidents than sedans.
Bigger Vehicles Are Directly Resulting In More Deaths Of People Walking
Unfortunately, if a sedan driver is involved in an accident with an SUV driver, his or her chances of survival are slim. In fact, researchers at the University at Buffalo recently analyzed a series of head-on collisions between a sedan and an SUV. They found that a sedan driver was about 8% more likely to be killed in a crash than an SUV driver.
Actual rollovers are more likely in SUV accidents than in car accidents. And yes, SUV drivers are at a much higher risk of being killed in a rollover. Furthermore, because SUVs have a higher center of gravity, they are more likely to be involved in accidents caused by wind or weather. But the chances of getting involved in a rollover accident are minimal.
In 2000, the NHTSA conducted a study and found that only 3% of all passenger vehicles involved in accidents were rolled over, but rollovers accounted for 20% of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes.
Now, on a personal note, as a personal injury attorney in Tampa, I interview and investigate 400 to 500 car accidents a year. In 2017, we had investigated 486. Out of these 486, 14 had a rollover accident. less than 3%. Of those who rolled over, 9 were SUVs and 5 were sedans. Out of these 5, 2 were hit by the SUV. This is in line with data found in a 2000 study by NHTSA.
China’s Xpeng G9 Could Be The Best Electric Suv Around
Draw your own conclusions as far as the numbers are concerned, but I think the SUV is more likely to roll over.
The researchers point out that those looking to buy an SUV should look at the active safety options they offer. Some examples include blind spot cameras, automatic braking and traction control systems.
Also, they note that sedan buyers should pay attention to passive safety features. Some examples include larger crumple zones, airbags and variable seat belts.
In head-on collisions between cars and SUVs, the study found that the risk of death was 7.6 times higher for the car driver than for the SUV driver. In crashes where the car had a better frontal impact rating than the SUV, the car driver fared slightly better, but was still four and a half times more likely to die than the SUV driver.
Suvs Vs Sedans: Is Bigger Always Better?
As a Tampa car accident attorney, I went through various studies and found the Access Magazine article the easiest to understand. The study examined information on serious head-on collisions in the government’s Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database. Specifically, the authors sought to determine whether car type played a role in the outcome and how crash scores predicted survival. The data sample included 83,251 accidents.
The researchers concluded that, at least in frontal crashes, vehicle type is more important than crash test scores in predicting survival. It is true that you cannot assume that a good crash test result is any kind of guarantee. However, choosing a safe vehicle is much more than choosing a large vehicle.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, head-on collisions account for nearly half of all passenger vehicle deaths on American roads. Based on its analysis, the institute says that overall, “…the driver of a vehicle with a good rating in the medium [frontal] stepover test is 46% less likely to die in a frontal crash than a driver of a vehicle with a good rating.” Not good. A driver of a vehicle with a fair or marginal rating is 33% less likely to die than a driver of a vehicle with a lower rating. In other words, ratings matter.
Choosing an SUV for safety isn’t an automatic win, as the higher center of gravity makes them more prone to rollovers, an often fatal incident. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) greatly reduces the risk of rollover and is highly recommended while buying a used vehicle. ESC is mandatory from the 2012 model year and was prevalent for several years prior to that. Notably, most of the 6,800 people killed in rollovers in 2010 were not wearing seat belts, suggesting that many of these deaths were easily preventable. (See “Flip 101” for more info.)
Best Value Cars: Small Suvs, Evs, Small Pickup Trucks And Sedans
Just because a larger and heavier vehicle has an advantage over a smaller and lighter vehicle, does not mean that lighter vehicles are unsafe. In fact, they are safer than ever and the total number of road deaths is close to an all-time low. However, choose a vehicle with up-to-date safety equipment such as anti-lock brakes, head airbags and stability control. And choose one that has performed well in various government and insurance crash tests. It should also perform well in Consumer Reports’ dynamic tests, such as crash avoidance and wet/dry braking. It is better to avoid an accident than to survive it.
It is then up to the driver to buckle up, stay calm and alert, and maintain a safe speed. This is the best way to maximize your chances of survival, no matter what size car you’re driving. For a good in-depth article on this issue, read Access Magazine’s article on SUV vs. car safety. Also, make sure you have adequate auto insurance, especially underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage.
Attorney Martin J. Hernandez of Fernandez & Hernandez, LLC in Tampa provides legal representation to families in auto accident injury and wrongful death cases. Our Tampa attorneys look forward to speaking with you and your loved ones. We invite you to read our recent results, from settlements to court decisions. Our qualifications and experience are also at your disposal. Our Tampa attorneys, Martin Hernandez and Martin Hernandez PA, are also bilingual. Call us at 813.755.9500 or visit us online for a free consultation.
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Suvs Are Killing People
If you have been involved in a car accident in the Tampa Bay area, call Tampa attorney Martin J. Hernandez of Fernandez & Hernandez for a free consultation today. We also recommend reading their reviews on Google Reviews, Avvo, and Yelp.
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Disclaimer: The material on this website is intended to be used as general information and not as legal advice. You should make an appointment with a lawyer to provide expert advice regarding your particular case. You should avoid sending sensitive, confidential or harmful information via e-mail, as mail on the Internet is not secure. Whatever the reasons for the popularity of SUVs like the Toyota Kluger, crash tests and accident statistics show that people are wrong if they think they increase safety. towards. Toyota/PAA
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