Car accidents are usually caused by speeding or sudden lane changes. Unfortunately, an increasing number of accidents happen because drivers use their smartphones while on the road to change the music or talk to someone through text messages. As dangerous as they are, these actions are freely practiced by most people.
However, some cars might lead to accidents more than others considering their engine power, size and features. If the vehicle is not suitable for the driver, they can lose control as soon as an obstacle appears on the road. Here's a brief explanation of how the type of vehicle increases the chances of an accident.
Compact cars
Compact vehicles are some of the most efficient and affordable, yielding good prices and fuel efficiency. However, recent safety car tests revealed these vehicles to be underperforming and prone to more injuries, such as concussions, whiplash and back injuries.
Because these cars are not necessarily made of solid materials or equipped with special safety features, they cannot protect the driver in a crash with a bigger vehicle. If you've been involved in a car crash and the other driver was at fault, you can seek a car accident lawyer in Washington DC, to get compensation by proving the breach of duty of care and reveal the damages you've had.
Luxury cars
As glamorous as they are, luxury vehicles are clearly owned for the speed and extravagance they provide. In terms of fatal crashes, we'd expect such cars to be at the top, considering they can reach incredible speeds and drivers are usually race lovers. Unfortunately, racing inside the city is not a good idea.
Infiniti vehicles, for example, have been found to lead the fatal crash list, being involved in three out of five cases. Pontiac is also targeted, as their drivers tend to speed up too much and practice hit-and-run. Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and BMW are also the subject of fatal car crashes.
SUVs
SUVs are some of the safest for drivers considering their specific manufacturing. Compared to other cars, SUVs are higher off the ground, hitting pedestrians right at their gravity center, where the vital organs are. On the other hand, vehicles that are lower in height can produce a bouncy effect and lead to pedestrians being propelled on the top of the hood, which is significantly less fatal.
SUVs, being bigger, are also more dangerous to kids and cyclists. Besides their size, the SUV's weight threatens a person's life more than smaller cars since the collision is so strong. Even small SUVs pose a certain risk on the road as most of their belts are relatively low and tighten up in a crash.
Final thoughts
Although cars are not perfect, and manufacturers sometimes don't cover all security necessities, some are more inclined to contribute to accidents and injuries than others. While bigger cars are more powerful in crashes, smaller ones are not properly equipped to protect the driver. So, choose your vehicle carefully and drive safely!
