Georgia Injury Law Blog
A new bill that is expected to be introduced soon would require federal standards for the heights of SUVs and pick-up trucks to also consider pedestrian safety. This is an extremely important change which is likely to save lives in auto accidents involving pedestrians and bicycles.
According to Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pennsylvania), who is introducing the new bill, while there is much that is currently being done to protect occupants inside the vehicle, there is much more that can also be done in order to protect vulnerable users like pedestrians and bicyclists who are outside the vehicle when auto accidents occur.
The popularity of pick-up trucks and SUVs has skyrocketed in the past few decades, and these are some of the most in-demand automobiles on the American roads. Unfortunately, while these are very popular vehicles, their presence on our roads also pose a serious danger to motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Their large sizes and bulk makes it much more likely that occupants of smaller vehicles will suffer serious personal injuries or wrongful deaths when they are involved in an auto accident with these large SUVs and trucks. There is immense danger to pedestrians and other vulnerable users like bicyclists who are involved in auto accidents with these vehicles.
Some of the biggest threats to pedestrian safety are the large blind zones that surround SUVs and pick-up trucks. The risk is even greater when the pedestrian is a small-sized person, like someone who is below 5 feet 2 inches in height or a child. It is difficult for an SUV driver to spot a pedestrian in time, and the kind of personal injuries that can result when a pedestrian of this size is involved in an auto accident with an SUV can be devastating and, very often, fatal.
The soaring popularity of these vehicles is also a matter of concern. SUVs and pickup trucks, for instance, accounted for just 38% of the automobile numbers in 2009. In 2024, these larger, faster vehicles accounted for approximately 75% of all automobiles. Larger vehicles are not just more devastating because they are heavier, but also because they tend to hit a pedestrian much higher on the body. A short pedestrian or a child is much more likely to suffer fatal head injuries when involved in an auto accident with an SUV. Head injuries or upper body personal injuries tend to be the most devastating personal injuries, and can lead to lifelong disability or even wrongful death.
Design modifications that make these vehicles safer must be a priority for American regulatory agencies, especially when you consider that the popularity of these cars is not likely to drop anytime soon. While many Americans find these vehicles highly convenient, they must also be made safe for other people who use the road.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in auto 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 including medical costs, lost income and other forms of damages. Talk to a car accident lawyer at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.