Since 2009, there has been a marked rise in pedestrian fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents. They have increased by a staggering 75%.
Recent studies have linked this increase in fatal accidents to a corresponding increase in the size of pickup trucks and SUVs. These are some of the most popular vehicles in the American car market, but they have grown tremendously over the last two decades.
The study claims that, had cars stayed roughly the same size they were before, anywhere from 200 to 400 pedestrians would have survived. But due to the larger vehicles, these people tragically passed away in accidents.
Why does vehicle size matter?
There are a few things to consider. First of all, larger vehicles sometimes have blind spots. A pickup truck is so tall that a driver may not see a child in the crosswalk in front of the vehicle, for example.
Another issue is that the flat front end on a modern vehicle, combined with the increase in height, means that pedestrians are more likely to be knocked over. With shorter vehicles that had sloping front ends, people would be hit below their center of gravity and would fall forward onto the hood of the vehicle. But modern designs mean that they are more likely to be run over, which can lead to more severe injuries.
Naturally, the increased size also means that a modern truck or SUV has a greater mass. In an accident, this just means it is capable of inflicting more severe injuries.
Seeking compensation after an accident
Have you been injured in a pedestrian accident or lost a loved one? You may deserve financial compensation for medical bills, lost earnings and more.