Kentucky pedestrians who are hit by any motor vehicle are vulnerable to injuries and fatalities. Their lack of protection combined with the size and speed of automobiles can cause brain trauma, spinal cord damage, broken bones, cuts, bruises and long-term damage. What people might not realize is that certain vehicles are more dangerous to pedestrians than others. After a pedestrian crash, it is imperative to consider all the factors from the crash to prepare for a legal filing to be compensated.
According to statistics for pedestrian accidents, sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) have long had a higher incidence of fatalities. Despite the vehicles transitioning into a more streamlined version, this remains problematic. Overall pedestrian deaths having increased by 53% from 2009 to 2018 and analysts are trying to find out why while trying lower that number. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted a study analyzing pedestrian crashes in Michigan.
IIHS looked at 79 such collisions and found that when there was an SUV-pedestrian accident, the injuries were 7% more serious when compared to passenger vehicles if the autos were traveling faster than 19 miles per hour. If the vehicles traveled at 20 to 39 mph, 30% of the pedestrians who had been hit by an SUV were killed. For passenger vehicles, it was 25%. If the SUV was going 40 mph or faster, every person hit died. With passenger vehicles, it was 54%. SUV sales have spiked and there are more of these vehicles on the road than ever.
The design of the SUVs is believed to be a major factor in pedestrian fatalities. The front of an SUV is higher and squared off. With that, a pedestrian is likely to be thrown backwards after being hit. As driver assist technology advances, it is hoped that there will be fewer pedestrian accidents. Still, considering what is currently available with these advancements, the results have been mixed as to how effective it will be for the foreseeable future.
Any auto accident presents the chance of long-term damage personally and financially. If it is a pedestrian-SUV accident, fatalities are troublingly frequent. The investigation into the accident is a critical part of pursuing compensation. This is true if the accident was with an SUV or a passenger vehicle. Before accepting a settlement from an insurance company, a consultation with a law firm experienced in all forms of car accidents may provide valuable advice on how to proceed.
