Many modern vehicles are getting larger, especially trucks and SUVs. These vehicles are often taller, wider and heavier than their counterparts from just decades ago.
For others on the road—especially pedestrians and cyclists—this trend has created significant risks. Oversized vehicles are involved in numerous deadly collisions, and their design features make fatal accidents more likely. Below are two examples.
1. Massive blind spots
The size of these vehicles creates large blind spots. Drivers often can’t see what’s directly in front of their own vehicles.
For example, in one study, dolls the size of children were set in front of a tall modern vehicle. The researchers inside the vehicle couldn’t see the dolls at all, even when they were 15 feet away. They only began to see the tops of the dolls’ heads when they reached about 21 feet. This clearly illustrates how children and pedestrians could be in danger in parking lots or crosswalks, as drivers may have no idea they are there.
2. Blunt front ends
Another issue is that many of these vehicles have tall, blunt front ends, which are much more dangerous than sloped front ends.
One problem is that the impact point tends to be higher, meaning a child could be struck in the head or neck area. Another issue is that these flat front ends are more likely to knock people over. This increases the chance of a front-over accident, which is much more likely to be fatal than if the pedestrian is knocked onto the sloped hood of a smaller vehicle.
Seeking compensation
Have you lost a loved one in a serious vehicle accident or suffered injuries yourself? If so, be sure you know what rights you have to compensation.