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The lawyers of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh have more than 100 years of combined Florida legal experience in personal injury, wrongful death and negligence cases. David Goldman, and Michael Babboni have each represented accident victims throughout Florida for over twenty …

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Auto Accidents Blog Post

Avoid the Minicar, Maybe Avoid the Injury

Larger cars are considered safer in an accident. How much safer?  A recent study suggests a lot safer. 

To meet demand for fuel efficiency, automotive manufacturers are retreating from heavy, steel-bodied vehicles. Cars and trucks of the future are likely to be built of aluminum and lighter-weight steels. 

For consumers considering minicars, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) suggests these cars may be light on fuel but heavy on risk. 

In an IIHS-sponsored study of 11 models of minicars, only one received an acceptable safety rating. Vehicles were tested by simulating a corner collision with an object like a tree or light pole at approximately 40 miles per hour. This small overlap test reveals how and where a vehicle absorbs energy from a glancing impact. 

Findings include the following: 

  • Vehicles of lighter weight have inherent disadvantages when absorbing collision impact. Only one model, the Chevrolet Spark, received an acceptable rating. Even so, the Spark appeared demolished after testing.
  • The structure of a minicar loses integrity quickly during a crash. Collapse of the interior cab led to seatbelt failure, airbag failure, forward movement of the seat and backward movement of the steering column toward the driver.
  • Two of the models tested rated higher for leg, thigh and hip injury. 

According to the senior vice president for vehicle research for the IIHS, “Unfortunately, as a group, minicars aren't performing as well as other vehicle categories in the small overlap crash.” 

When considering a car, consider its safety. If injured in a car accident in Florida caused by the negligence or mistake of others, talk with a skilled injury attorney for advice.

 

 

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Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh
2822 University Parkway
Sarasota, Florida, 34243 USA
941-954-1234