Test Reveals Small Cars More Dangerous in Crashes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2012, there were 33,561 motor vehicle accident fatalities. While thousands of car accidents occur each year, some are much more deadly than others. New data suggests that smaller cars did not fare as well on crash tests.
A motor vehicle accident is terrifying, and if you’ve been injured, you need the help of a personal injury attorney. The following provides more information about how the smaller vehicle did in the crash tests, and how an attorney can help if you’ve been in an accident.
Overview of the IIHS Safety Test for Small Cars
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a study conducted by the IIHS suggested that small cars may be more dangerous in crashes. The study assessed what happened when 25 percent of a car’s front end strikes a barrier while the vehicle is moving at 40 miles per hour. Unfortunately, many small cars received a low safety rating.
According to the IIHS, a car would only receive a “good” safety rating if, upon impact in the simulation, the car’s cabin protected its passengers by staying intact and with seatbelts and airbags.
If a car’s cabin collapsed, it would receive lower ratings. A collapsed cabin can caused imminent harm to its passengers, interfering with the effectiveness of airbags and seat position.
What were the results of the IIHS safety test?
Unfortunately, many of the small cars did not fare very well on the safety test.
- Mazda5 Wagon.
- Nissan Juke.
- Nissan Leaf.
- and, the Fiat 500L were a few of the cars that scored the worst on the test.
In fact, the Mazda’s side airbags didn’t even deploy during the test. Additionally, the Hyundai Veloster and Scion xB also faired relatively poorly, only receiving a score of “marginal.”
On the other hand, there were some smaller vehicles that received a rating of “acceptable.”
- Chevrolet Volt.
- Mitsubishi Lancer.
- Scion FR-S.
- Subaru BRZ.
- and, Ford C-Max.
Twelve small cars received a rating of “good.” The results of the study revealed that, of the 32 cars tested, only 19 earned a “good” or “acceptable” standard—daunting news for owners of small cars. If you are the owner of a small car, it’s important that you search for your vehicle’s safety rating, as well as any relevant recalls or announcements concerning safety information.
SaferCar.gov is a great resource for car owners hoping to find more information about the safety of their vehicles.
Talk to Rob Levine, the Heavy Hitter, if Injured
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by another person or by your unsafe vehicle, you may be able to pursue an insurance claim or a case in civil court in order to recover compensation for your injuries.
Types of damages you may be able to recover include the following.
- medical expenses.
- emotional suffering.
- lost wages.
- property damages.
- and, pain and suffering.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, the attorneys at Rob Levine & Associates are ready to help. Our attorneys can assist you in understanding your rights as a victim of someone else’s negligent actions, guiding you through the process of filing your claim, and explaining personal injury law and recovery options to you.
We assist injured parties in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. To get started on filing your claim immediately, call us now at 800-LAW-1222 (529-1222).
