Why are Some Fixed Object Collisions Fatal?

You may think that most of the fatal car accidents which occur in Connecticut involve multiple cars. However, crashes involving one vehicle can be fatal, and this includes fixed object collisions. A previous blog listed many of the factors behind these incidents. Today’s blog will discuss why these accidents can be deadly.

The way a car strikes an object is one factor which determines whether or not an accident will be fatal. According to RoadandTrack.com, drivers usually do not hit fixed objects with the entire front of their vehicle. One study demonstrated that many fatalities occur when less than 25 percent of your car’s front hits an object. This is because the front airbag is your main source of protection in an accident, and your vehicle’s safety cells, the area around the passenger compartment, are not intended to be your primary protection. This means that you can sustain more damage if you do not hit an object squarely.

Another factor is that you travel at the same speed as your car. Your car typically slows down quickly after hitting an object. Your body, though, continues to move. After the collision, your car may rotate around the object while your body moves at the same speed, and this can cause further injuries. This is because your body usually does not hit the airbag as the car rotates. Instead, you may hit the window or move to the center of your car.

Colliding with a fixed object can be dangerous because of the way your car absorbs the impact. When a small portion of your bumper hits a tree or utility pole, the impact affects primarily this section of the car, and this can cause your door frame and steering column to compress into the vehicle. Because your body moves as parts of the car collapse, your head can easily collide with these parts at high speeds.