In recent years, pedestrian fatalities have become more common. In fact, car accident fatalities on the whole have been trending upward. It’s clear that the roads are becoming more dangerous for a multitude of reasons.
One of those reasons is the way that vehicles are designed. Modern vehicles, especially pickup trucks and SUVs, tend to have blunt front ends. This means that the nose of the car is flat and the front edge of the hood is relatively high – perhaps even taller than a child.
As a result, when a pedestrian or cyclist gets struck by one of these vehicles, they are more likely to be thrown forward and end up under the front tires of a vehicle. With other car designs, such as convertibles and sedans, the nose design is slanted and the front edge of the hood is not very high. In the event of a crash, pedestrians are more likely to suffer relatively minor injuries as they are thrown onto the hood of the car.
Will this change?
Part of the problem here is that this is just a modern design trend. Pickup trucks and SUVs have been getting larger and taller for years. Many consumers tend to like this style of vehicle, whether or not it is practical or safe.
Because of this, auto manufacturers will likely continue to design tall, heavy vehicles with blunt profiles. If you have lost a loved one in an accident caused by a negligent driver in one of these dangerous vehicles, or if you’ve suffered serious injuries, just be sure you know what legal steps you can take.
Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed