An SUV pedestrian accident lawsuit may be the only path to justice as big trucks and SUVs keep growing on U.S. roads. A major study found that pedestrian deaths have risen about 75% since 2009. Cars got safer in most other ways during that time. Part of the blame falls on vehicle size. The average hood today stands about three feet high. That is tall enough to strike most adults and nearly all kids in the chest instead of the legs.
Bigger trucks are not just taller. They also block more of the road from view. Blind zones on some popular pickups have nearly doubled since 2002. A driver may not see a person crossing the street until it is too late to stop. This is why an SUV pedestrian accident lawsuit often centers on what the driver could actually see.
How Vehicle Size Raises Injury Risk
Height and blind zones both raise the odds of a deadly hit. Each extra inch of hood height raises the odds of a pedestrian death by about 2.8%. That shift in vehicle size over the past decade is tied to thousands of extra deaths. The firm’s article on taller vehicles covers how speed and height combine to raise injury risk on Florida roads.
When it comes to SUV pedestrian accidents, blind zones make the danger worse in a new way. A driver turning left in a big pickup may not see a person in the crosswalk at all. Thick front pillars, meant to make roofs stronger in a rollover, cut down on side view. Add a tall hood, and a small child or short adult can vanish from sight.
A few facts stand out from recent research:
- Vehicles with hoods over 50 inches tall have grown more than fivefold since 2002
- Blind zones on some pickups have grown by 60% or more since then
- Auto braking can miss pedestrians in bad weather, at higher speeds, or when someone pushes a stroller
Building an SUV Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
An SUV pedestrian accident lawsuit often turns on what the driver could see and how fast the truck was moving. A crash expert can measure a truck’s blind zone. This can show whether the driver had a fair chance to spot someone crossing. Data recorders, dash camera footage, and phone records can all help build a clear timeline of the crash.
Fault may not rest with the driver alone. A bad blind zone by design, or a failed auto-braking system, can raise separate legal questions. A lawyer can help sort out who bears blame. Acting fast matters, since data and dash footage can be erased within weeks. The firm’s truck accident page explains how this kind of proof gets used in a claim.
Federal groups have taken note of this trend too. Recent studies link tall, boxy fronts to a much higher risk of death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed new crash-test rules. The goal is fewer head injuries in these crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has also studied how vehicle height changes crash outcomes.
Orlando Car Accident Attorneys Support Injured Pedestrians
Central Florida’s busy roads mix walkers, cyclists, and ever-bigger trucks and SUVs each day. Orlando car accident attorneys who handle SUV pedestrian accident lawsuits know how to gather blind-zone proof, data, and witness accounts before it fades. That work can mean the gap between a denied claim and fair pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain. Anyone hit by a truck or SUV in Central Florida can start a claim today to guard their rights while proof is still fresh.
If you’ve been hurt in an SUV pedestrian accident, call 407-846-2240 for a free consultation with an Orlando car accident attorney at the Martinez Manglardi personal injury law firm. Convenient locations throughout Central Florida, including Orlando, Kissimmee, Apopka, Palm Bay, Ocala, Haines City, and Davenport.
