If you drive an SUV, take notice to the results of a new test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS studied seven SUVs to see how passengers would fare in a small overlap frontal collision. Each of the SUVs had good ratings for driver-side small overlap protection; however, only one of the SUVs tested received a good rating for the passenger.
Are you driving the only SUV that received a good rating for both driver and passenger safety in small overlap front crashes?
What is a Small Overlap Test?
Designed to see how well a vehicle’s safety measures protect the driver in an offset- head on crash, the small overlap test only involves 25 percent of the width of vehicle. According to the IIHS, “small overlap crashes pose a challenge because they bypass a typical vehicle’s main front structure. Since the test was introduced, 13 manufacturers have made structural changes to 97 vehicles. Of these, nearly three-quarters earned a good rating after the changes.”
The passenger small overlap test determines how the vehicle protects a passenger if the crash is on the passenger’s side. The only SUV of the seven tested to receive a good rating for small overlap crashes on both the driver’s side and the passenger’s side was the 2016 Hyundai Tucson.
How Did the Other SUVs Rate?
The 2015 Buick Encore, 2015 Honda CR-V, and the 2015 Mazda CX-5 had good driver-side ratings but only rated as acceptable for the passenger side. The 2014 Nissan Rogue and the 2014 Subaru Forrester have good driver-side ratings but marginal ratings on the passenger side. Finally, the 2015 Toyota RAV4 had a good driver-side rating but tested poor on the passenger side.
Manufacturers that do not take steps to improve the passenger side ratings for the small overlap crash test may see a drop in their overall safety ratings. You can check how your vehicle rates according to the IIHS Safety Awards here.
Head-on and Frontal Impacts
Head-on collisions and frontal impacts cause severe, life-threatening injuries for the driver and the passenger. Drivers and passengers suffer a variety of severe injuries including traumatic brain injury (TBI), paralysis, amputation, and internal bleeding. In many cases, the accident victim must be “cut” from the vehicle by emergency responders. Because of the severity of the injuries, damages in frontal crashes are substantial.
Insurance companies do not want to pay high settlements. You need an experienced New Orleans car accident attorney to ensure that your rights are protected. If you choose to deal with the insurance company directly, you may not receive the full amount of your accident claim. Our NoLA car accident attorneys understand how to value an accident claim properly to maximize the amount of compensation the victim can receive pursuant to Louisiana personal injury laws.
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Case Is Worth?
Contact The Olinde Firm by calling (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to schedule a free case evaluation. One of our vehicle accident attorneys discuss the facts of your case to provide experienced, trusted legal advice. In most cases, you owe no attorney fees until we obtain compensation for you.