One of the main reasons people buy SUVs is that they believe they will help keep them and their families safe. That is what the manufacturers have told them.
While this is not a lie, it is not the full story either.
SUVs can make a collision more likely
SUVs come with an increased width in the pillars that support the roof. These four pillars interrupt the glass that wraps around a car. Drivers can see through glass, but they cannot see through metal pillars so the thicker the pillars, the larger the percentage of their 360-degree view is lost. In other words, SUV blindspots can be more extensive due to these thicker roof pillars.
The raised front also makes it much harder to see anything immediately in front of the vehicle that is not that tall, such as a child crossing, an adult on a low-rider motorcycle or people in an open-top sports car.
SUVs can do more damage to others in a collision
The bigger and heavier the vehicle that hits you, the more damage it is likely to do. So an SUV is likely to do more damage than an ordinary car.
The higher frontal area increases the risk further. An SUV will strike a pedestrian or cyclist higher up their body. They have less chance of being hit in the legs and flung over the hood than with a lower car. Instead, they will be hit in their upper body and perhaps head, i.e. in the most vulnerable part of the body. The same can apply to anyone inside another vehicle hit by an SUV. The impact will be higher up their vehicle and body.
If you or a loved one is hit by someone in an SUV, you’ll likely need considerable compensation. Learning more about how to build a strong claim will be crucial.