The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently performed a series of safety tests on 11 minicars, and most of these vehicles, which are the smallest cars sold in the U.S., were rated unacceptable when it came to frontal crash testing. Some of the cars included the test were the Honda Fit, the Fiat 500, the Hyundai Accent, the Toyota Yaris and the Chevy Spark. Of these The Honda Fit and Fiat 500 tested the worst in the overlap front crash test.
The IIHS’ Overlap Front Crash Test
As the second year that the IIHS has performed overlap crash testing, this specific test is intended to replicate what happens when vehicles’ front driver side corners crash into other vehicles or objects (like trees, intersection signals, utility poles, etc.) at around 40 mph. According to the IIHS, this overlap crash test is more rigorous and important than head-on vehicle crash testing typically conducted by vehicle manufacturers because the overlap crash test focuses the force of the impact at the driver’s side of the car, which:
- Puts more pressure on the vehicle to distribute the force of the impact.
- Increases the risk that a vehicle’s occupant compartment will collapse.
Each of the vehicles tested were given a rating of “poor,” “marginal,” “acceptable,” or “good.” All 11 minicars tested by the IIHS were rated as either poor or marginal in the overlap front crash test, which the IIHS considers to be the “the most fundamental element of occupant protection.” Additionally, all of the vehicles except for the Chevy Spark and the Mazda 2 were rated poorly when it came to kinematics and restraints.
The results of this testing only seem to underscore what many consumers have known about minicars but what, unfortunately, is often brushed aside in the interest of saving money – smaller cars that weigh less tend to be less safe and put occupants at a greater risk of serious, potentially fatal injuries in the event of a car accident.
St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or in any type of motor vehicle accident, contact the St. Louis car accident lawyers at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law. We have a long-standing commitment to serving our clients, and we are experienced at aggressively defending our clients’ rights in any legal setting. Our goal is to preserve and promote the rights and welfare of individuals and families who have suffered injuries and losses and/or who need help navigating through the complexities of the court system.
Since 1993, our lawyers have been successfully representing our clients in various areas of personal injury litigation, including car accident lawsuits. Our unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice in every case we handle means that we will work relentlessly to help our clients achieve the best possible outcomes to their cases. One of our primary goals is to help accident victims secure the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and losses so they can focus on their recovery and moving on with their lives.
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