2 Ways Vehicle Size can Impact a Car Accident in Los Angeles.

Vehicle size can affect injury outcomes in a car accident. 

Consumer vehicle size is getting smaller or larger, most likely depending on who you ask. 

Smaller, more compact vehicles, like many smart or electric cars, are common on the road. Likewise, larger trucks and SUV’s join them as they travel across the state. 

Traveling via car is one of the most common methods of transportation in the Los Angeles area and the rest of the country. A recent study reported by Forbes revealed there are nearly 280 million registered vehicles in the US.

Car accidents become more and more prevalent with such a large number of vehicles on the road. 

Los Angeles County has averaged almost 1,000 fatal car accidents over the last 5 years. In fact, just a hair under 20 percent of all fatal crashes in California took place in LA County.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:

• Texting while driving
• Road rage
• Drowsy driving/sleeping behind the wheel
• Eating while driving
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Disobeying rules of the road (traffic lights and signs)

Could vehicle size have an impact on car accidents?

For starters, there’s no definite say that bigger or smaller vehicles get in more accidents. However, the size could affect the severity of any injuries.

A larger vehicle size generally offers more protection during accidents. 

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the area of an automobile front bumper and the driver will “absorb energy from crashes by crumpling”. Thus, a bigger car with a longer front end generally provides better protection from accidents than a vehicle with a smaller front end.

The IIHS also states that bigger vehicles usually continue moving forward in crashes than their smaller counterparts. This decreases the force occupants may see in an accident.

Also, a smaller vehicle is always at a disadvantage when colliding with a larger vehicle. However, this doesn’t mean that certain larger cars are immune to accidents because of vehicle size.

Let’s think of two situations. 

In the first, Karry is driving a pickup truck when they collide with a Mini. In most situations, the Mini will take a brunt of the damage.

Plus, Karry’s pickup truck can still be damaged, resulting in a personal injury. 

Now, let’s look at another situation where Karry’s pickup truck is hit by a tractor-trailer. Even though Karry is still driving a larger vehicle, in this case, the vehicle size of the truck that hit them was even bigger. 

Karry’s accident with the larger truck will cause theirs to take the brunt of the force from the accident.

If you get into a car accident, regardless of vehicle size, there are steps you can take to help following a crash:

• Call 911. Get any help you can.
• Don’t deny any medical attention. Even if you feel fine, you could be injured.
• If it’s safe to do so, exit the vehicle.
• Take photos and videos of the scene. Be sure to capture your vehicle, the other vehicle, and any surrounding areas (damage to signs, the road, etc.).
• Contact a personal injury lawyer

If you were injured in a car crash, vehicle size doesn’t matter. You might be eligible for compensation if you were injured by a negligent driver.

Don’t hesitate to contact the Los Angeles car crash lawyers at C&B Law Group. With decades of combined experience, our car accident lawyers in Los Angeles have helped clients settle cases for millions of dollars.

We service victims of accidents all over Southern California, including areas like:

• Burbank
• Glendale
• North Hollywood
• Van Nuys
• Panorama City
• Sherman Oaks
• Downtown Los Angeles
• Pasadena
• More!

There are many injuries you may have suffered after an LA car accident, including:

• Broken bones
• Neck injuries
• Back pain
• Cuts or lacerations
• Internal injuries
• Whiplash
• Head injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Paralysis
• Loss of limbs
• Death

Contact our LA car accident lawyers today for a free consultation regarding your car accident injuries.