If you get involved in a car accident caused by another driver, the size of the vehicle that hits you is very important. It can help determine how severe your injuries are going to be.
Studies find that larger vehicles tend to be more dangerous. This danger is especially significant for pedestrians, cyclists and children. But it’s also a risk for adults and other drivers. Let’s take a look at two reasons why.
Large blind spots
For one thing, oversized vehicles tend to have large blind spots where drivers simply can’t see. This is part of the reason why children face such an elevated level of danger. With many pickup trucks and SUVs, the front end is higher than a child’s head. Multiple children could be standing directly in front of the vehicle, and the driver would have no idea they were there.
For instance, this is sometimes why accidents happen in parking lots, driveways or crosswalks. A driver turning right in a large pickup truck may not even see a child crossing the street.
Greater size and weight
Additionally, heavier vehicles are more likely to cause fatal injuries when they strike smaller vehicles. This is simply because a car crash transfers energy from the larger vehicle into the smaller one. If one vehicle is substantially heavier, it’s going to push the other vehicle backward. This drastically increases the severity of injuries and the odds that someone in the smaller vehicle will pass away. This is part of the reason why commercial truck accidents are so dangerous.
Seeking compensation
Unfortunately, vehicle trends indicate that trucks and SUVs just keep getting larger, so these risks remain. Those who have been injured need to know how to seek financial compensation.