In 1978, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration developed a five-star rating system to let consumers know how different vehicles fared in frontal collisions. In 1997, the NHTSA incorporated side-impact collisions into its rating system and added rollover tendencies to the safety assessment in 2001. Many consumers rely on these safety ratings to help them make decisions about which vehicles to purchase. However, new research indicates that safety ratings may give a false sense of security. A study released by the University of Buffalo in May 2013 showed that when sport utility vehicles collide with cars, the occupants in the SUVs are more likely to survive – no matter the safety ratings of the cars.
Higher Fatalities in Passenger Vehicles
University of Buffalo researchers looked at data in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, a database maintained by the federal government tracking fatal auto accidents in the U.S. Researchers looked at 83,521 severe head-on collisions occurring between 1995 and 2010. They found that when an SUV and a smaller passenger vehicle had a head-on collision, the passengers in the smaller vehicle were 7.6 times more likely to die than those in the SUV when researchers did not factor in front crash test safety ratings. When the passenger vehicle had a better front crash test safety rating than the SUV, the passengers in the smaller vehicle were still four times more likely to die in the collision. When the SUV had a higher safety rating than the car, those in the passenger vehicle were 10 times more likely to die in a head-on collision with the SUV.
Researchers attributed their findings to the mechanics involved in a head-on collision. When an SUV hits a smaller vehicle head-on, the SUV usually goes up over the hood of the smaller passenger vehicle because the bumpers on the two automobiles do not match up. The SUV ends up crushing the occupants of the smaller car in such accidents.
SUVs Are Not Guaranteed Safe
Safety experts acknowledged that vehicle type may mean more than safety ratings for surviving head-on collisions, but they cautioned that choosing an SUV does not automatically guarantee that a driver will be safe. SUVs are more prone to rollover accidents, which are often fatal. Advances in electronic stability control have reduced the frequency of SUV rollovers, but they are still more prone to such accidents than passenger vehicles are.
Speak With an Attorney
No matter how hard a driver tries to be safe, he or she cannot guarantee that others are taking as many safety precautions. When drivers do not use appropriate care behind the wheel, they cause auto accidents. If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence, seek the assistance of an experienced auto accident attorney who can help you recover the money you need for your bills and property loss.
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.
