You might have seen advertising campaigns talking about how safe an SUV can keep you and your family. It is one of the things the manufacturers of these vehicles have used with great success to boost sales — so much so that SUVs are now the best-selling category of new cars.
But are they really as safe as the manufacturers say? It all depends on where you are.
SUVs are more dangerous for others on the road
An SUV could well protect you and your family more than the average car if you are sitting inside one. However, it is a very different story for anyone on the other side of a collision. SUVs can do much more damage to other road users. There are two main reasons for this.
First, they weigh much more than the average car, so they hit anything or anyone with increased force. That means worse injuries for those they hit.
Second, their higher-than-usual front end means they will hit pedestrians higher on their bodies than the average car. They are more likely to strike someone directly in the head, or the upper body, which contains all the vital organs. By contrast, a lower-fronted vehicle will hit most people in their legs, and perhaps they will land on the hood rather than being thrown to the ground in front of the vehicle that hit them.
If someone in an SUV is responsible for colliding with you, you may have more serious injuries than if they had chosen a smaller car. Learning how to get the compensation you need is important. Having legal guidance can help.
