When it comes to car sales, 60 percent of new cars sold are sport utility vehicles. People in Oklahoma and elsewhere love them for their size, design and capabilities. Unfortunately, it is believed that the increase of SUVs on the road has contributed to the increase in fatal auto-pedestrian car accidents.
A recent report was released on this subject by the investigative teams of two news agencies. The report claims that SUVs have directly contributed to the 46 percent rise in pedestrian deaths since 2009. In 2016 alone, nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed. Why are SUVs being blamed for many of these deaths?
It is believed that SUVs are involved in 40 percent of all pedestrian accidents. When a pedestrian is struck by one of these larger vehicles, more damage is likely to be done to the victim’s upper body where the vital organs sit. Finally, these vehicles have power, and many of their drivers may drive faster than they should.
There is little comfort that can be granted to families in Oklahoma who have lost loved ones in fatal auto-pedestrian car accidents. These events are tragedies that no one should have to endure, yet such incidents happen all too frequently. When they do, if driver negligence is thought to blame, civil claims may be filed by the victim’s surviving family members in an effort to seek compensation for their losses. While monetary relief cannot fill the void of a life lost, it can lighten the financial burden that often accompanies the unexpected and untimely death of a loved one.