When the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted a study involving highway deaths, it produced some statistically interesting results. Overall, there has been a sharp decline in vehicle crash fatalities since 1980.
But bucking that trend is the uptick in pedestrian traffic deaths. The reason for this otherwise anomalous increase appears to be the proliferation of ever-larger sport utility vehicles (SUVs). A review of pedestrian fatalities during the years between 2009 and 2018 reveals a rise of 53%. During the same time frame, there was an 8% increase in the number of SUVs on the road.
These figures correlate with the sad distinction that pedestrian deaths nearly comprise 20% of all auto accident deaths. The last time we saw statistical proportions like that was back in the early 80s.
Larger sizes inflict greater injuries
Injury patterns of pedestrian/SUV collisions show that these heavier and larger vehicles knocked pedestrians forward and caused almost twice the serious damage to pedestrians’ thighs and hips than smaller automobiles do.
Newer designs lean toward pedestrian safety
Manufacturers’ designs seem to be changing in acknowledgment of the dangers their earlier models posed. They lowered bumpers and other shock-absorbing buffers to the areas where pedestrians were most likely to be struck.
Were you a pedestrian hit by an SUV?
If so, you probably already know that you are lucky to be alive. But you certainly aren’t lucky in facing a long and expensive rehabilitation. It doesn’t take long after a catastrophic SUV pedestrian accident for the bills to start piling up. But now you can’t work, so this mental stress adds to your physical woes.
Don’t give up the fight! There is a path to civil justice by litigating the full value of your personal injury claim against the negligent driver who stuck you with their SUV.