What Are the Deadliest Vehicles in Car Accident Cases?

According to data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an average of around 33,000 Americans die in a car accident each year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study that shows auto collisions represent the most common cause of death for Americans between the ages of 1 and 54. The usual suspects of the causes of car accidents include speeding, distracted driving, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. Although drivers receive much of the publicity for causing vehicle collisions, another culprit is a defective or poorly designed car that places both drivers and passengers in harm’s way.

The deadliest vehicles for car accidents share many of the same design defects. Some of the issues that plague the deadliest vehicles for car accidents include rollovers, malfunctioning tires, and inadequate braking systems. Smaller cars also play a role in the number of deaths caused by auto accidents. A study released in 2021 by Value Penguin Insurance reviewed the car accident data presented by the NHTSA from 2013 through 2018. The study turned up a few surprises, including data that demonstrated one of the most popular vehicles was involved in nearly 11,000 deadly car crashes during the five-year period of the study.

Whether you were involved in an accident caused by a defective motor vehicle or the negligence of another driver, you should contact one of the auto collision attorneys from Morgan & Morgan to determine how to proceed with your case. If a defective vehicle caused you harm, one of our lawyers who specializes in litigating product liability cases will review the evidence you provide. Since 1988, Morgan & Morgan has recovered more than $20 billion in compensation for our clients.

Schedule a free case evaluation today to start on the road to recovering from your financial losses.

What Are the Deadliest Vehicles for Car Accidents?

There is a fine line between operating a defective model and operating a popular model. Some of the motor vehicles on our list rank near or at the top in terms of sales in the United States. Just the sheer number of models on the road increased the likelihood of accidents that resulted in a fatality.

Ford F-Series

The most popular truck sold in the United States was involved in 10,845 deadly motor vehicle accidents during the five-year period of the study. The study did not discover any issues with defective parts, which means the deadliest vehicle for car accidents is a victim of its own popularity. One important factor to consider is the Ford F-Series truck is often used by professionals in the construction industry, which increases the risk of the vehicle getting involved in a fatal auto accident.

Chevrolet Silverado

With more than 7,000 deadly car accidents over the five-year period of the study, the popular Chevrolet Silverado ranks second on our list of the deadliest vehicles for car accidents. Like the Ford F-Series truck, the Silverado sees plenty of action at construction sites, as well as a truck used by professionals that haul heavy equipment. The study did not associate any malfunctioning parts as a prominent cause of the high number of fatal auto collisions.

Ram

Ram pickup trucks were involved in nearly 6,000 deadly vehicle collisions from 2013 through 2018. However, the occupants of a Ram pickup were less likely to die in an auto accident because of the sturdy structure of the body. Some models of the Ram experienced stalled engines, which increases the risk of serious accidents, especially on heavily congested roads and highways.

Honda Accord

With just over 5,000 fatal car accidents between 2013 and 2018, the Honda Accord represents the first non-truck to land on our list of deadliest vehicles for car accidents. Honda has issued several recalls for the Accord because of design and mechanical defects. Honda issued a recall of the Accord because of an airbag that ruptured upon impact. Another recall covers a braking system that wore down quickly. Excessive oil consumption has been another issue with the Accord, but the problem did not warrant a recall.

Toyota Camry

Although the Toyota Camry has not received as much publicity as the Honda Accord has for deadly motor vehicle accidents, the Camry possesses a serious design flaw that has contributed to 4,734 fatal crashes during the five-year period of the study. In particular, Toyota recalled the Camry in 2018 because of a faulty braking system. The model also has a reputation for oversteering, which can cause the vehicle to spin out of control and make an impact with another car or a stationary object.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Fatal Car Accidents?

Defective motor vehicles represent just one part of the equation that determines the causes of fatal car accidents. The other part of the equation rests on the shoulders of the drivers operating motor vehicles.

Distracted Driving

Three broad categories of distracted driving can lead to a fatal crash. Visual distractions happen when you take your eyes off the road. Texting and driving represent the most common type of distracted driving, although reaching for something in the glove compartment box and applying makeup while looking in the rearview mirror remain common types of visual distractions. Manual distracted driving is when a driver takes one or both hands off the steering wheel. The most common cause of this type of distracted driving is eating while operating a motor vehicle. Cognitive distracted driving occurs when the mind wanders while driving a motor vehicle.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving, especially when it becomes aggressive, claims thousands of American lives each year. The NHTSA has focused on trying to reduce the number of fatal car accidents caused by reckless driving for many years. Drivers that improperly change lanes, follow too close to another vehicle, and pass vehicles when passing is not allowed are guilty of reckless driving. Other examples of reckless driving include refusal to yield, failing to obey traffic signals, and driving on the shoulder of a road. 

Driving Under the Influence

Nearly one-third of all driver fatalities in the United States were caused by the driver operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. The effect of operating a motor vehicle under the influence starts with an altered mood and a slight loss of judgment. Poor muscle coordination and the inability to control emotions represent two signs of driving a car while moderately impaired. For drivers that have a blood alcohol content of more than 0.10, the signs of driving under the influence included slurred speech, loss of control, and extremely slow reaction times.

Speeding

Although speeding technically qualifies as a type of reckless driving, it deserves its own category because of the high number of traffic fatalities caused by moving well over the speed limit. Speeding leads to potentially deadly auto collisions that are caused by loss of control, failure to stop in time to prevent impact, and reducing the protection of safety gear and equipment. Because of the violent impact produced by a speeding car accident, the risk for loss of life increases significantly.

How Do I File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

If you lost a loved one because of a car accident, you should contact one of the experienced attorneys at Morgan & Morgan to discuss your case. The lawyer assigned to your case examines the evidence to determine whether an auto manufacturer or another driver should assume blame for causing the fatal crash.

A wrongful death lawsuit represents a legal action taken against another party for committing one or more acts of negligence. The negligence can be associated with an automaker that failed to design and build a safe motor vehicle or a driver of another vehicle that acted negligently by speeding, driving distracted, and/or failing to obey traffic laws. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can lead to the awarding of monetary damages at the end of a civil trial. 

Investigation of the Wrongful Death Accident

After a car accident that causes a fatality, one or more law enforcement agencies arrive at the scene of the deadly accident to gather evidence and speak with witnesses. The result is the release of a formal police report that determines the cause of the fatal auto collision. The official police report represents the most important document your legal counsel refers to when litigating a wrongful death case. Your car accident lawyer also conducts an investigation to ensure all the evidence collected at the scene indicates another party committed one or more acts of negligence.

Filing the Lawsuit

Your attorney is responsible for filing the proper paperwork with the court, as well as filing a civil lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations. Each state has established a deadline for filing a wrongful death lawsuit. For example, California gives plaintiffs three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit, while Montana extends the deadline by a year to three years. The deadline for filing a wrongful death lawsuit typically differs from the deadline for filing a car accident lawsuit.

A complaint or petition is the first document filed by your legal counsel, followed by the filing of a summons. The defendant receives copies of every document filed by your wrongful death lawyer. “Service of process” represents the legal term of sharing every document you file with the court.

Trial vs. Negotiations

During the discovery phase of a wrongful death lawsuit, you have the option to negotiate a settlement. Going through a wrongful death trial can trigger several types of upsetting emotions that negatively impact the quality of your life. By negotiating a favorable settlement with the other party, you avoid a time-consuming and emotionally draining trial. However, if the wrongful death lawyer assigned to your case cannot reach a settlement with the other party, your legal counsel will not hesitate to take your case to trial.

At the end of a trial, the judge or jury hearing your case issues a decision. You might receive monetary damages for your losses or have your claim denied because of insufficient evidence. 

Contact Morgan & Morgan

Dealing with the loss of a loved one because of the carelessness of another party requires the legal support of a highly-rated attorney. When you meet with a litigator from Morgan & Morgan, you should learn whether the negligence of another driver or an auto manufacturer caused the death of a loved one. Either one of the deadliest vehicles for car accidents caused the tragedy or another driver committed one or more acts of negligence that led to the collision.

Schedule a free case evaluation to determine which party should assume legal liability for the death of a loved one.