The go-to vehicles for many families several years ago were large sports utility vehicles (SUVs). Many prospective buyers opted to purchase them because they believed that they would be most effective in minimizing their injuries or keeping them alive if they had a crash.
Whether you were one of those who bought into that trend or you find yourself in the market for a vehicle, you might have the same question. You may wonder if a vehicle’s size has any impact on your safety if a crash occurs.
Are larger vehicles safer than smaller ones?
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) statistics show that trucks and SUVs tend to yield higher survivability rates than smaller vehicles, including sedans.
The IIHS researchers determined that the potential for a motorist to survive such a crash is greater when two unequal size vehicles crash into one another. The occupants of the larger vehicle are more apt to walk away from it unscathed than the smaller vehicle’s occupants.
What makes smaller cars less safe than larger ones?
The lives of the occupants of a smaller vehicle are most in peril during a head-on accident. Larger vehicles are better about absorbing the impact of such a crash, which can minimize the chances of any damage to the vehicle’s passenger compartment.
Age and price may play a factor in crash survivability
While a vehicle’s size appears to affect its safety, IIHS researchers also discovered that newer cars tend to be safer than older ones. The researchers also found that the more expensive a vehicle is, the more likely it is that its occupants will survive their accident. The IIHS determined that these conclusions hold true no matter the size of the vehicle involved.
What to do if an accident left you with injuries
Injuries tend to be most catastrophic when vehicles involved tend to be of different weights and heights. While health insurance may help pay the medical bills you’re likely to incur, it may not cover everything, depending on the severity of your injuries. Auto insurance can help with your accident-related expenses. The more you know about how car crash claims work, the better you’ll be able to make decisions in your case.