Georgia Injury Law Blog
It is no secret that American SUVs and pick up trucks are extremely popular on our roads and highways. However, a new study seems to indicate that super-sized vehicles are not necessarily safer for their occupants, while becoming even more dangerous for occupants of other vehicles in car accidents with them.
Americans have long preferred larger vehicles, not just because of their looks and style, but also because they are believed to be safer in auto accidents. To a large extent, this is true. A large Chevrolet Suburban, for instance, packs a greater punch, and offers much greater protection to its occupants in the event of an auto accident, compared to a smaller passenger car like a sedan. The bigger bulk means less damage to the vehicle in the case of an accident, and a lower risk of blunt force trauma to the occupants. This is why these cars are considered ideally suited for high-risk groups like teenage drivers.
Unfortunately, cars on American streets are becoming much bigger and bulkier. Giant cars that are almost double the height of smaller sedans are fairly common now on our roads. A new study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety finds that while the increasing size of cars makes them more dangerous to the occupants of other vehicles on the road, it does not necessarily mean greater protection for the occupants of the large vehicle. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study, in the case of occupants of vehicles that were lesser than the fleet average in weight, the fatality risk was lower with every 500 pounds of additional weight. In the case of vehicles that were heavier in weight than the fleet average, the protection to occupants was not necessarily higher. In fact, there was barely any drop in the risk of wrongful death for the occupants of these super -sized vehicles.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety researchers say that the prevalent thinking that larger cars are more likely to protect in the event of an auto accident is simply not true. Beyond a certain height and weight, there may be minimal or no increase at all in the protection that your car offers in an auto accident. In fact, with better in-car technologies like advanced airbags, occupants already enjoy a great deal of protection and the size of the car does not really impact this beyond a certain level. However, the risk that your car poses to the occupants of other vehicles that may be involved in a car accident with your car increases significantly with the size and weight of the car.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. A car accident claim can help you recover damages including medical costs, lost income and pain and suffering. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.