Both ABC News and CNN.com reported this year that for the first
time, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted crash tests on small
SUVs to measure front-corner impact, which accounts for approximately 24% of
injuries and deaths from front crashes.
The IIHS reported
that only 2 of the 13 SUVs tested passed the test. About a quarter of the serious and fatal
injuries in front automobile crashes are caused by “small-overlap” impacts
similar to what happened to the SUVs in this test. These crashes also cause severe foot and leg
injuries as the car’s front wheel is pushed back into the passenger
compartment.
Among other things,
these types of impacts can cause the driver or passengers to move sideways away
from the areas that are protected from airbags.
The vehicle itself can be contorted so that the airbags end up not being
in the proper locations to protect the occupants of the vehicle during a
wreck.
Bettina Altizer- Attorney at Law
Altizer Law P.C.
324 Washington Avenue
Roanoke, Virginia, 24016
540-345-2000
E-Mail- info@altizerlaw.com
