The most recent analysis of driver death rates in car accidents tells us that size matters and smaller is deadlier, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Why Small Cars Have Higher Driver Death Rates
“Smaller vehicles offer less protection for the driver in crashes, and their lighter mass means that they take the brunt of collisions with larger vehicles,” Joe Nolan, IIHS senior vice president of vehicle research, says in the report.
A vehicle’s ability to resist forces colliding with it —its mass— is a key to damage in a collision. The more mass a vehicle has, the less impact a collision has on it. Conversely, the more mass and momentum a vehicle has, the more resistance it is to change, such as slowing down when a driver applies the brakes.
Simply put, a bigger car withstands a collision better and will cause more damage if it hits a smaller car. The force of impact in a collision increases with speed. Because of their size, smaller cars have less structural protection to protect a driver from sustaining fatal injuries in a crash.
The IIHS found that minicars have the highest overall death rate of any vehicle category with 82 fatalities per million registered vehicle years, and very large SUVs have the lowest, at 15.
Driver Death Rates by Vehicle Style and Size
The worst-performing vehicles of 20 reported and overall driver deaths per million registered vehicle years were:
- Ford Fiesta (4-door mini) – 141
- Hyundai Accent (4-door mini) – 116
- Chevrolet Sonic (4-door small) – 98
- Nissan Versa Note (small station wagon) – 96
- Fiat 500 (2-door mini) – 95
The best-performing vehicles of 20 reported each had zero driver deaths per million registered vehicle years:
- GMC Yukon XL 1500 4WD (very large SUV)
- Infiniti QX60 2WD (midsize luxury SUV)
- Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 4WD (small luxury SUV)
- Lexus NX 200t 4WD (luxury midsize SUV)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD (midsize luxury car)
Not only does size matter, but you get what you pay for because higher priced vehicles often are equipped with more safety features such as blind spot warning and lane departure alert systems.
“The overall death rates for luxury vehicles are substantially lower than the averages for nonluxury vehicles of the same sizes,” the IIHS says.
In its fatal crash statistics, Texas has seen a similar difference among SUVs and other passenger cars.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) fatal crash statistics by vehicle body style for 2019 show:
- 1,743 fatal crashes involving passenger cars
- 1,326 fatal crashes involving pickup trucks
- 1,012 fatal crashes involving SUVs
How a Brownsville Small Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
No matter the car style or size, if a fatal car accident occurs and one driver is at fault, the injured party’s survivors have a right to seek compensation for their loved one’s wrongful death. Texas civil law allows a spouse, child or parent to bring a wrongful death claim after someone else has caused the death of a family member.
The Brownsville car accident lawyers at Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. can help you pursue justice so that your focus can remain on your health and your family’s recovery.
Wrongful death claims are meant to make a family financially whole after the unjust loss of a breadwinner and can involve sizable amounts of money. Unfortunately, insurance companies focus on limiting payouts and protecting their profits. Most insurers will try to pay the smallest amount possible to settle a claim.
You will need the help of a seasoned Brownsville injury attorney to have the best chance of obtaining a fair wrongful death settlement. Our experienced Brownsville attorneys will build a solid case and negotiate aggressively with the insurance company to resolve your wrongful death claim. We’ll also be prepared to present a persuasive case in court, if necessary, though most cases are settled before trial.
If you have lost a loved one in a car crash in Cameron County, Texas, contact a Brownsville injury lawyer at Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. today for a free, no obligation legal consultation. Our attorneys will explore all legal options to help provide your family a secure future in Brownsville.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
ABOUT HERRMAN & HERRMAN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
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