Vehicle Size and Car Safety

Many people purchase small, compact cars because they are fuel efficient. However, as the price of gas remains fairly low, more people are buying larger cars, including SUVs. While it may be more expensive to fill an SUV’s gas tank, you are less likely to experience fatality in a car accident if you are driving a larger vehicle, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Vice President of Research for IIHS states that it simply comes down to physics. If your vehicle collides with another vehicle that is larger than yours, there is more likely to be a fatal injury. The larger the vehicle, he stated, the safer you are likely to be in the event of a car wreck.

Cars with the Worst Driver Fatalities

The federal government collected accident data from 2012 to 2015, in which the IIHS analyzed and developed ratings for 208 vehicle models. The IIHS analyzed vehicles that had at least 100,000 registered models over the four-year study period and discovered that the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio had the worst driver fatality rates. While a representative from Hyundai commented that the Accent meets or exceeds all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, a representative from Kia was not available for comment.

The IIHS found that there were 11 larger model vehicles that had a zero percent fatality rate between 2012 and 2015, including the Jeep Cherokee, the Mazda CX-9, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, the Lexus CT 200h, Audi A6, and the BMW 535. Certainly, there are other factors that contribute to car accidents, including weather, road conditions, driver error, and mechanical issues. However, the numbers indicate that size plays a large role in car safety.

There was a 58 percent increase in the number of drivers who suffered fatalities in car accidents in the United States during 2012 to 2015 compared to 2011, which was the last time it was analyzed by the IIHS. This increase is not surprising, given the fact that more Americans are driving and taking road trips due to the improved economy. However, as we head into the peak summer season when more people are on the roads, travelers may want to consider driving a larger vehicle, whether they are driving to the beach or to work. The size of the vehicle could protect drivers from serious, even fatal injuries in the event of a major car accident.

Baltimore Car Wreck Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Car Accident Victims

Car accidents can be extremely traumatic, especially when there are serious injuries involved. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident, it is in your best interest to contact the highly skilled Baltimore accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton at your earliest convenience. Whether you were driving an SUV or a compact vehicle, we will work tirelessly to determine who was responsible for causing the wreck. Our dedicated team will hold the negligent parties accountable and seek the maximum financial compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.

Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent car accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.