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According to news sources, a new study conducted by the insurance industry based on government data seems to suggest that recent changes in the design of SUV’s and pickup trucks could have actually translated into saving more lives.

The study found that the number of deaths involving cars and minivans between 2000-01 was 44 per million, while the number of deaths fell to 16 per million in 2008-09. Changes in design such as matching the height of bumpers on SUV’s with those of smaller cars as well as additional safety features in smaller cars are credited with the decrease in fatalities.

Although the study suggests that the number of fatalities each year blamed on SUV and pickup truck related accidents has decreased, car occupants are still more likely to die if they collide with an SUV or pickup truck.

Back in 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had urged car makers to redesign their vehicles to make them safer for all those on the road. The result is that those driving smaller cars can now feel just a bit safer while driving next to their larger sized counterparts.

As a personal injury lawyer, I hope that the results of this endeavor to make vehicles safer for all those on the road will continue to show improvement. I hope that by providing this information, motorists are able to stay safe on our roads. If you’ve were injured in an accident that you think was the result of the distracted driving of another, contact a Berlingame car accident lawyer your area to learn about the legal options open to you.