Does Your Vehicle Matter in a Crash?

You may be eyeing that fancy sports car or considering a motorcycle. Yes, these vehicles offer high performance, but there’s something else you need to consider before purchase: safety.

You might like smaller cars, but in a crash, the bigger vehicle will prevail. While force and speed play a role in car accidents, vehicle size is also a factor. A bigger, heavier vehicle provides better crash protection than a smaller one. Because the part of the vehicle between the front bumper and the interior absorbs energy from crashes by crumpling, vehicles with longer front ends tend to offer better protection in frontal crashes. Heavier vehicles also tend to continue moving forward in car accidents, so the people inside them are subject to less force.

While a lighter vehicle will always be at a disadvantage in a crash with a heavier vehicle, automakers have reduced this threat in SUVs and pickups in recent years by lowering their energy-absorbing structures so that they are more similar that those in smaller cars. Here’s a look at the effects of a crash based on vehicle type.

Motorcycles

Motorcyclists often end up with significant injuries because motorcycles are so small, making their exposure to harm great. Motorcycle riders have nothing to protect them in the event of a crash. There are no seat belts, making ejections common.

Passenger Vehicles

The safety of passenger vehicles varies, but they definitely offer more protection than a motorcycle. The bumpers of the vehicles are intended to hit and absorb shock.

Semi Trucks

The driver of a semi is usually the least likely to be injured in crashes due to the height and weight of the truck. Smaller vehicles that come into contact with the large truck are likely to be crushed, and those inside can be seriously or fatally injured.

Factors Involved

• Mass and momentum. Larger vehicles typically have more mass, which means they carry more momentum at a given speed. In a collision, a larger vehicle can exert a greater force on a smaller vehicle.
• Energy absorption. Bigger vehicles often have larger crumple zones and are designed to absorb more energy during a crash, which can help protect occupants.
• Structural integrity. Larger vehicles generally have more robust structures. The frame and body of larger vehicles are often built to withstand higher levels of force without collapsing.
• Height and impact zones. The height of a vehicle can affect how it interacts with other vehicles in a crash. SUVs have a higher bumper and frame than sedans, leading to more severe damage.
• Crash dynamics. The dynamics of a crash, such as the angles of impact and the speed of the vehicles involved, can also be influenced by vehicle size.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

When it comes to vehicles, size really does matter. Larger vehicles are better able to absorb the force of a car accident, while smaller vehicles are more likely to be totaled, causing serious injuries to occupants.

In a crash? Seek legal help from a Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC. We’ll make sure you don’t unknowingly forfeit important rights and remedies available to you. Call 281-347-3247 or fill out the online form to schedule a consultation.

Source:

iihs.org/topics/vehicle-size-and-weight