Today’s SUVs have a very different design from those from 20 years ago. However, compared to SUVs from earlier decades, newer SUV models appear to be more likely to be involved in deadly pedestrian accidents. That is what research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) claims. To learn more about these catastrophic accidents and the causes that experts think are responsible, keep reading.
Call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you have lost a pedestrian in an accident or if you have been hurt while walking.
Fatal car crashes are declining, but not fatal pedestrian crashes
In the United States, there were 36,560 fatal car accidents in 2018. It is simple to notice that this number has been declining when compared to the more than 50,000 fatalities recorded in 1980. However, there are more fatal pedestrian accidents now than ever before. Why? We will look to see if we can locate the solution to that query.
What the investigators examined and what they discovered
Nearly 80 accidents from three distinct urban regions in Michigan were examined by the researchers. They found that, compared to other types of vehicles, SUVs posed the greatest risk to pedestrians. It is crucial to remember that this is a small sample size, though. To confirm the study’s findings, a larger study that examines broader geographical areas and a greater number of accidents would be required.
The statistics’ specifics
According to the study, when an incident happened at a speed greater than 19 mph, SUVs injured pedestrians more severely than did vehicles. Only 23% of incidents involving other vehicles at the same speed that involved vehicles traveling from 20 to 39 mph resulted in the death of a pedestrian, compared to 30% of accidents involving SUVs.
100% of accidents involving SUVs killed a pedestrian when the vehicles were moving at 40 mph or more, compared to 54% of accidents involving cars. There was minimal difference in the number of pedestrians when the accident happened at less than 20 miles per hour; neither typically entailed fatality and minor injuries were typically incurred.
What makes this information so vital?
Pedestrian fatalities rose by 53% from 2009 to 2019. SUVs increased from 21% to 29% of all vehicles during those same years. Today, one-fifth of all traffic fatalities are caused by deadly pedestrian incidents. Since the beginning of the 1980s, the percentage has not been this high.
Regarding the cause, much remains to be discovered, necessitating further research. Many of the design modifications that SUV manufacturers made to safeguard the car’s occupants may have inadvertently increased the danger that their vehicles pose to pedestrians, according to those in the know. Call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation if you are hurt in this kind of accident.
