When it comes to pedestrian accidents, crashes involving motor vehicles can be the deadliest. If an unprotected pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle, they may sustain catastrophic injuries or be killed, even if the accident happens at low speed. According to a new study released earlier this year, however, some types of vehicles pose more dangers to pedestrians than others. At Mass Injury Group, our knowledgeable team of Boston pedestrian accident lawyers is standing by to assist you with your claim and to collect the compensation that you deserve.
Even though sport utility vehicles, also called SUVs, have undergone several safety-related changes, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concludes that they pose the most dangers to pedestrians. The study indicates that the number of people who die as a result of a motor vehicle accident has declined from over 50,000 in 1980 to roughly 36,600 in 2018 due to safety advancements. When it comes to the number of pedestrian fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents, however, the number of deaths has climbed over the last 10 years.
Part of the explanation for this is that the number of SUVs on the road has grown dramatically, comprising roughly 70% of the market and totaling 6 million sales during the first half of 2019. This is in comparison to 2.5 million sales of cars. The rise in SUVs on the road is important when it comes to pedestrian safety. The study examined the threat that SUVs pose to pedestrians compared to regular passenger vehicles. It concluded that SUVs cause more dangerous injuries than passenger cars when accidents happen at a speed of more than 19 miles per hour. When the crashes happen at speeds of 20-39 miles per hour, three out of ten crashes involving SUVs result in pedestrian fatalities, compared to five out of 22 crashes for cars. At speeds exceeding 40 miles per hour, pedestrians die at almost a 100% rate, according to the study.
Some of the ways that SUVs cause deadlier accidents for pedestrians is the greater tendency to throw pedestrians forward. It is also twice as likely that a pedestrian will suffer a hip and thigh injury when struck by an SUV due to the high point of the front profile of the SUV. Although some SUV makers have tried to mitigate this outcome by making their cars with lower profiles, the danger still exists.
If you were injured in a car accident as a pedestrian involving an SUV, you may be entitled to compensation. In a personal injury lawsuit, you must prove that the defendant failed to operate his or her SUV with the same reasonable care and skill that a careful and prudent driver would use when faced with the same situation. This means paying attention to the roadway, obeying traffic signs, and yielding the right of way to pedestrians. If you prevail in proving this, you can recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
At Mass Injury Group, we have handled a variety of car accident cases, including pedestrian accidents. We have seen firsthand just how painful and disruptive this type of accident can be for the victim and his or her loved ones. We offer a free and private consultation so that you can learn more about our services and whether we can assist you with recovering compensation. Call us today at 617-263-0060 or contact us online to get started.