When car companies design a new vehicle, each model is put through a series of
crash tests to identify safety features and weak points in the vehicle’s
structure. Most vehicles are designed to properly absorb the impact for the rear
and the front of the car, and seatbelts and airbags provide additional support
in the event of an accident. However, the side and corners of vehicles offer the
least protection for passengers.
Accidents involving the corner of a vehicle are referred to as small-overlap
crashes and are easily recognizable for the damage done to the headlights and
side windshields. Sadly, it was not until 2012 that the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety began rating vehicles the safety of the driver’s side
small-overlap, and the passenger side was not tested until 2017. Because of this
delay, manufacturers have been rushing to improve the ratings of newer vehicles,
but one group has lagged behind.
The Risk to Passengers in Pickups
Due to the size and weight of a pickup, passengers face significantly more
chances of being injured than in a small vehicle, and this is especially evident
in head-on collisions. Despite efforts to improve passenger safety features,
2019 pickups have not reached the safety standards that other vehicles
demonstrated, according to the IIHS. In contrast, the driver’s side for most models has received higher quality
scores. When reviewing a vehicle’s safety features, researchers conducted five
different tests on the model:
- Small-overlap front test
- Medium-overlap front test
- Side test
- Roof-strength test
- Head-restraints-and-seat test
These tests were rated in one of four categories: poor, marginal, acceptable,
and good. Among these tests, only a handful of pickups were identified as
achieving acceptable to good ratings for passenger-side protection.
Pickups with Acceptable Ratings
The only pickup to be eligible for the IIHS’s 2019 TOP SAFETY PICK award is the
Honda Ridgeline, which is was rated as acceptable in the passenger-side crash
tests. This is due to two factors: high-quality front crash protection and
headlights, both of which are lacking in all other pickup models. In addition to
the Ridgeline, the Toyota Tacoma was also rated acceptable in the passenger-side
test. Sadly, it is not eligible for the award because the headlights are not up
to IIHS’s standards.
Pickups with Good Ratings
Only three pickups have achieved good ratings when tested for small-overlap
crashes: the Ford F-150, Nissan Titan, and Ram 1500. All other models
demonstrated an inability to maintain their structure in crash tests, which
would put passengers at risk for blunt force trauma and crush injuries.
Poor and Marginal Pickups
Of the 11 vehicles reviewed by the IIHS, five were rated marginal and one
received a poor rating, the Toyota Tundra. In a small-overlap crash test, the
Toyota Tundra suffered severe damage to its structure, resulting in damage to
the head and lower right leg of the passenger crash test dummy. The remaining
vehicles – the Nissan Frontier, GMC Sierra 1500, GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado,
and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – all received marginal ratings in the
passenger-side test.
Recovering Compensation After a Pickup Accident
Pickups are invaluable vehicles for working class drivers in Texas. They make it
easy to haul large equipment, tools, and materials, and their engines
demonstrate superior hauling capabilities. However, the safety risks can result
in serious injuries to passengers in an accident, even if you have a defensive
driver. If a negligent driver collides were your pickup, resulting in serious
injuries, contact the Longview personal injury attorneys at Sorey & Hoover. We can thoroughly review the accident, your medical
records, and the damage to your vehicle to determine the proper compensation you
deserve. Call us at (903) 230-5600 to schedule a free consultation – even if you
are out of the Longview area, we can travel to you.
