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Road safety is a critical concern worldwide, with millions of accidents occurring each year. While an estimated 1.19 million people die in these collisions, around 20 to 50 million are injured.
The distinction between mild and serious injuries or fatalities can be attributed to numerous variables. However, the size of the vehicles involved is a major determinant. Understanding how vehicle size influences accident outcomes is essential for improving safety measures and reducing the impact of road incidents.
In this article, we will look at the impact of size on accident severity and the injuries suffered by the victims.
The Physics of Vehicle Collisions
In any collision, the principles of physics play a key role. Kinetic energy and momentum are the two key concepts. Kinetic energy, which increases with both mass and the square of velocity, determines the amount of energy that must be absorbed during an impact.
A Springer journal study states that the kinetic energy of the colliding vehicle is also transferred to increase the impact of the crash. Thus, larger vehicles, having more mass, inherently possess greater kinetic energy at any given speed compared to smaller vehicles. Therefore, when a larger vehicle collides with a car, the damage to the smaller automobile is greater.
The product of mass and velocity, or momentum, influences the dynamics of collisions as well. In a crash, the change in momentum results in forces that vehicles and their occupants must withstand. Larger vehicles, due to their higher mass, tend to transfer more force upon impact.
However, they also have a greater capacity to absorb energy, potentially reducing the force transmitted to occupants. This absorption capability makes vehicle size a double-edged sword in accident scenarios.
Vehicle Size and Occupant Safety
As noted in an article by The Conversation, larger vehicles generally offer better protection to their occupants due to their substantial structure. Thus, they can absorb more energy during a collision to ensure minimal damage. However, these very features make them dangerous to small car drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
They often have larger crumple zones, which help dissipate energy away from the passenger cabin during a collision. This structural advantage can lead to lower injury severity for occupants of larger vehicles.
Consider a recent example of the crash between an SUV and a tractor-trailer in Arkansas. Although the SUV is a big car, it was smaller compared to the tractor-trailer in this case. Therefore, six individuals in the SUV were pronounced deceased at the scene due to the impact of the larger vehicle.
However, the tractor-trailer driver’s injuries were limited to non-life-threatening ones. According to THV11, he was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries. The victims’ bodies have been brought to a lab for identification.
The point here is that larger vehicles can pose a threat to the occupants of smaller cars or pedestrians. Therefore, in these cases, injuries suffered can be severe and lead to high medical expenses. If anything like this happens due to the other driver’s negligence, the victims have the right to file a lawsuit.
Let’s take the example of a recent crash in Rogers, Arkansas, to understand this better. The accident happened on Interstate 49 near Exit 83 in Rogers. This led to traffic up to Exit 86 on April 24, 2024. The traffic was cleared after a couple of hours, and no injuries were reported. However, the emergency team did respond to the crash and were present there.
Now, imagine that an accident occurred between a sedan and an SUV, and some injuries occurred. In this case, the victim who sustained injuries due to the other driver’s fault can hire a Rogers car accident attorney and file a lawsuit. This may give the victim the ability to pursue damages and reimbursement for medical costs.
According to Keith Law Group, a lawyer can help you with several things, including:
- Investigating the accident
- Case preparing
- Calculating damages
- Filing an auto insurance claim
- Settlement negotiations, and more.
All these things can help you navigate the legal proceedings and increase your chances of winning the case.
Vehicle Size and Damage to Property
Larger vehicles, due to their mass and structure, tend to cause more significant damage in collisions. The force exerted by a large vehicle in a crash can lead to extensive damage to any other objects or vehicles it strikes. This increased damage potential extends to infrastructure, such as guardrails, signposts, and buildings, leading to higher repair costs.
The economic impact of vehicle size on accident-related costs is substantial. Larger vehicles often result in more extensive property damage, which translates into higher insurance claims and repair expenses. Additionally, the healthcare costs associated with treating injuries from collisions involving large vehicles can be significantly higher.
The Role of Vehicle Design
While vehicle size is an important factor, design and safety features also play a significant role in determining accident outcomes. Contemporary automobiles are furnished with cutting-edge safety features intended to safeguard passengers and lessen the intensity of collisions. All sizes of automobiles are made safer by features like crumple zones, electronic stability control (ESC), airbags, and anti-lock braking systems (ABS).
However, the size of the vehicle may have an impact on how effective these features are. For instance, larger vehicles with advanced safety designs may offer superior protection compared to smaller vehicles with similar features.
Case studies of different vehicle models reveal variations in safety ratings, reflecting the combined influence of size and design. For example, larger SUVs with comprehensive safety packages often receive higher safety ratings from organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety IIHS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the forces involved in a car accident?
Kinetics and momentum are the two major forces present in moving vehicles. When automobiles collide, these forces need to be absorbed to minimize the damage. The higher the amount of these forces, the bigger the damage suffered by the vehicle and the occupants.
What is the normal size of a vehicle?
Compact automobiles typically measure 10–14 feet by 5.8–6 feet by 4.5–5 feet. Midsize cars, on the other hand, measure roughly 14–16 feet by 6 feet by 5.6 feet. A full-size automobile is 16–18 feet long by 6 feet wide by 4.7 feet deep.
What vehicles cause the most damage to roads?
Larger vehicles like buses and tractor-trailers cause the most damage to the roads. This happens due to the sheer size of these vehicles, which is often much higher than smaller automobiles like sedans or motorcycles. The greater weight and size result in higher surface tensions, causing more damage.
In conclusion, the size of a vehicle is a key factor in determining the severity of accidents. Larger vehicles generally offer better protection for their occupants due to their greater mass and energy absorption capabilities. However, they can also cause more significant damage and pose higher risks to occupants of smaller vehicles. The interplay between vehicle size, design, and safety features is complex, requiring comprehensive strategies to enhance road safety.
