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The safety of a vehicle is always a consideration when purchasing a new vehicle. Especially for those with children, safety is a top priority. There are, however, certain cars, that, even with the technology available today, provide less safety for their passengers when involved in a car accident. Smaller Vehicles In these tough economic times, everyone seems to be searching for a way to save some money. Because of the unpredictability of gas prices, purchasing smaller, more fuel-efficient cars is becoming a more popular way of saving at the pump. Although we would all like to save some money, purchasing smaller cars does have its downfall: smaller cars don’t fare well in collisions. According to a recent study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, the cars with the highest fatality rates when involved in car accidents were typically smaller cars. In fact, 11 of the 16 listed as most dangerous in accidents were small cars. Smaller cars do not provide the same safety as larger cars simply because they are smaller and weigh less. Another factor that makes smaller vehicles less safe is the height of the driver and passengers. The driver and passengers in a smaller vehicle are often at the same height as the bumper of an SUV or pickup truck, resulting in more catastrophic injuries, and making it more difficult for airbags to provide adequate protection. Even though the majority of cars listed in the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s study, there are also larger cars that prove to be unsafe when involved in accidents. The Chevy Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500, and Nissan Titan, for example, are all pickup trucks that are advertised as strong, safe vehicles. When tested in side impact car accidents at 40 mph with other pickup trucks or SUVs, however, they were found to have no better than marginal safety. All three of these pickups are equipped with side impact airbags, but still came up short in protecting the occupants. Overall, smaller vehicles are definitely found to be unsafe and have the highest fatality rates. Cars including the Pontiac Sunfire, Dodge Neon and Kia Rio top the list with the worst fatality rates when involved in accidents. All three of these cars are small passenger vehicles. Seat belts, front and side airbags, and antilock brakes are all safety features that are found in most cars these days, but there are still many additional factors that contribute to the safety of certain vehicles. It is always best to do thorough research on any vehicle you are considering purchasing to ensure that you and your family will be protected as best as possible if you are involved in a car accident. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, please visit the website of the experienced car accident attorneys at Polewski & Associates, serving the Dallas, Texas area, today.
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