When comparing vehicle safety, many assume that bigger means safer. While SUVs generally fare better in crashes with smaller vehicles due to their size and weight, crash-test ratings don’t tell the whole story. A study from the University of Buffalo confirms that in head-on collisions, SUVs offer better protection, making drivers and passengers more likely to survive without serious injuries than those in sedans. However, SUVs also have a higher risk of rollovers because of their higher center of gravity. No matter what you drive, accidents can lead to serious injuries. If you’ve been in a crash, don’t wait; reach out to an experienced Indiana car accident attorney immediately.
SUVs are often considered safer than sedans due to their larger size and higher driving position, but their safety advantages depend on the type of accident. According to Consumer Reports, SUVs generally offer better protection in front-end and rear-end collisions due to their greater weight and structural design. However, due to their elevated center of gravity, they also come with a higher risk of rollovers, especially in sharp turns or emergency maneuvers.
SUVs also have longer stopping distances, and their heavier weight can lead to more severe injuries in crashes. While modern SUVs are equipped with advanced safety features, both SUVs and sedans have their own risks that should be considered when choosing a vehicle.
Ultimately, the safest vehicle depends not just on size but also on driver behavior, safety technology, and crash-test performance. Features like antilock brakes, stability control, and side airbags play a significant role in preventing serious injuries in any vehicle type.
To ensure that your SUV is safe, it helps to understand how rollovers can happen. Because an SUV sits up higher off the ground, it has a higher center of gravity. If an SUV is lighter, it will roll over more easily. So, driving a heavier and larger SUV can reduce rollover risk. It also helps to stick to the posted speed limit and slow down around corners and curves. Don’t try to turn too quickly, or your SUV could end up on its side. That can also lead to some serious injuries. If another vehicle collides with an SUV, it may also cause the SUV to roll over, so you need to make it a habit to drive defensively. Also, the boxy shape and heavier weight of an SUV cause it to tip more easily, especially if you’re switching lanes.
Studies show that rollover crashes are three times more likely to be fatal compared to other types of accidents. While electronic stability control systems, mandated in all vehicles since 2012, have helped reduce SUV rollover, they still lead other cars concerning this safety hazard. So, remember, sudden steering, braking, or accelerating can cause an SUV to tip. Always keep your speed in check and avoid abrupt maneuvers. Evenly distribute heavy gear and luggage. An uneven load or too much weight can negatively impact handling and stability.
Many of the latest models of today’s SUV offer technological advancements that were only found in luxury vehicles just a few years ago.
#1. Standard Safety Features: Most new SUVs now come standard with anti-lock brakes, stability control, multiple airbags, rearview cameras, and emergency braking assistance. These features work together to help avoid collisions and reduce injuries in a crash.
#2. Emergency Braking: Systems like emergency automatic braking with pedestrian detection use cameras and radar to detect potential front-end collisions. If the driver doesn’t react quickly enough, the vehicle can automatically apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate a crash. This technology has been shown to reduce rear-end crashes by up to 40 percent.
#3. Lane Keeping Assistance: SUVs with lane-keeping assistance have cameras that monitor lane markings on the road. If the vehicle starts to drift out of its lane without the turn signal on, the system provides a visual, audible, or haptic warning to alert the driver in the car. It can even gently nudge the steering wheel to guide the SUV back into the proper lane. This helps combat drowsy or distracted driving as well.
#4. Blind Spot Monitoring: Blind spot monitoring uses sensors to detect vehicles in an SUV’s blind spots and alerts the driver with a warning light or a chime. This technology helps avoid dangerous lane changes by making the driver aware of any vehicles around them that may be hidden from view. Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to vehicle safety. Some smaller cars can hold their own just fine. That’s why it’s important to understand the risks and benefits of buying an SUV and why it’s important to drive defensively.
While SUVs are often considered safer due to their size and height, they also come with unique risks that can increase the likelihood of severe injuries or fatalities in an accident.
In addition, statistics reveal that SUV passengers are more likely to be partially or fully ejected from the vehicle, even if they’re wearing seatbelts. This greatly increases the chance of fatal injury or death. The higher seating position and more upright sitting posture, combined with a larger window area, make occupants more vulnerable to being thrown from the cars.
SUVs typically weigh significantly more than passenger cars, which means collisions involving SUVs produce higher impact forces. All that extra weight and size comes with some major downsides in the event of a crash.
While the larger mass of an SUV provides some protection in a crash, it also causes more damage to other vehicles or anything else it hits. So, when choosing an auto, you need to consider how a vehicle handles impacts and protects its occupants.
Another major danger associated with SUVs is their longer braking distances compared to other cars. The heavier weight of an SUV means it takes more time and distance to come to a total stop. According to studies, SUVs can have braking distances up to 10% longer than other vehicles on the road. At higher speeds, this difference in braking becomes even more pronounced and dangerous.
Do you need to file a personal injury claim in Indiana? Have you recently been involved in an auto accident in Indiana that was not your fault? If so, reach out to the law firm of Blackburn Romey. Contact us to schedule a consultation now.
Yes, but there are important considerations. While SUVs generally provide better protection in head-on collisions, they also come with unique risks. A University at Buffalo study, led by Dr. Dietrich Jehle, found that sedan drivers were 7.64 times more likely to die in head-on crashes with SUVs, regardless of crash-test ratings. Even when a sedan had a higher crash rating than the SUV, the sedan driver was still 4.52 times more likely to die. This is primarily due to bumper mismatch, where SUVs ride over smaller vehicles, crushing the occupants. However, SUVs also have a higher rollover risk, which remains a critical safety concern.
Yes, but they don’t tell the whole story. Crash-test ratings are helpful for comparing vehicles of the same size and weight, but they don’t fully account for what happens in mismatched crashes. such as when an SUV collides with a sedan.
Blackburn Romey founding partner Tom Blackburn graduated with honors receiving a degree from Indiana University at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Initiating his legal career in 1977, he has been active in practicing law and currently serves as a member of the Indiana State Bar Association on the Ethics and Advertising Committees, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, as a board member at the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, and as an appointed member of the Executive Committee for the State of Indiana for the National Trial Lawyers Association.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Tom Blackburn, who has more than 47 years of legal experience, including over 39 years specializing as a personal injury attorney.
