Subcompacts and sports cars are the deadliest vehicle types

Drivers in Louisiana should know that the automotive research firm iSeeCars.com has analyzed the fatal accident rates for vehicles with a model year between 2013 and 2017. While the overall rate at which the vehicles were in a fatal crash was 2.6 cars per billion vehicle miles, the rate was nearly twice that for subcompacts and sports cars: 4.5 and 4.6, to be exact.

iSeeCars.com compiled a list of 14 vehicles with a fatal crash rate double that of the average, and subcompacts and sports cars both had six entries. The subcompact Mitsubishi Mirage came in first with a rate of 10.2 cars per billion vehicle miles, followed by the Chevrolet Corvette (9.8) and Honda Fit (7.7). The list ended with the Hyundai Veloster Turbo and Nissan Versa Note (both 5.2).

It makes sense that these two vehicle types would be so deadly. First, neither type tends to come with many active safety features beyond a rearview camera. There are exceptions like the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro, but these two were actually put on the list at numbers 10 and 11 with a fatal crash rate of 5.8 and 5.5, respectively. Another factor is that sports cars are built to emphasize speed and acceleration, and the higher the speed, the more severe the crash injuries.

Under personal injury law, those who are injured at the hands of a driver who was speeding or negligent in some other way can be eligible for compensation. Compensatory damages could cover medical expenses, lost wages and non-monetary losses like pain and suffering. To see how strong of a case they have in light of this state’s comparative fault law, victims may see a lawyer for an assessment. The lawyer may represent victims at the negotiation table or, as a last resort, in the courtroom.