SMALL CARS ARE MORE DANGEROUS AND LEAD TO MORE DEATHS TESTS AND ACCIDENT STATS SHOW
Small cars are becoming more popular due to higher gas prices and heightened environmental awareness. But even though these tiny autos might be more prudent, they are consistently shown to be less safe. Size does matter when it comes to car crashes, and tests results for smaller cars can be misleading. If you have been injured in a car accident in California, please contact an experienced lawyer for help immediately.
Despite many changes and additions to small cars, statistics show that they are fatally more dangerous than mid-sized or larger automobiles. Fatality rates for small car passengers are constantly higher than those for large ones. Crash victims in smaller cars are 51% more likely to die in their accident.
Specialized safety mechanisms and design cannot outweigh simple physics. The weight and size of smaller cars continues to be the most important factor in safety, or lack thereof. The differences in weight are astounding; in some cases small cars can be outweighed by three times their size. Mini cars weigh anywhere from 1800 to 2500 pounds. Larger SUV’s by comparison weigh 3300 to 5500 pounds or more.
Tests results from experiments performed by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) can be misleading. Due to the way the tests are conducted, frontal-impact crash tests enacted on small cars only provide for information regarding a collision with a car of equal size. Therefore, a good rating in head-on crash tests is a good rating only if the crash impact is with a car of similar weigh and size. Alternatively, test ratings for side-impact collisions are representative for a collision with any sized car.
If you or a family member has been injured in a car accident in California, contact a local attorney for help. Please call the Law Team at Greenberg & Rudman LLP toll-free at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free consultation about your rights. Let us fight for you in this time of need. Call us now.
