What types of vehicles put their occupants most at risk in car accidents?

In the UK, the Department of Transport sporadically publishes information about car accidents causing personal injuries for every type of car, based on information provided by the police. The most recent statistics, from 1996-2000, are revealed in a report published online entitled "Risk of injury measured by percentage of drivers injured in a two-car injury accident."

The report sets out the likelihood of incidents based on the size and make and model of the car (small cars/medium cars/large cars). Car accidents involving a particular model of car (expressed as the "level of confidence" in the report analysis) can be statistically different from the average risk of personal injury caused to drivers in the car group the model belongs to, such as small cars.

The Peugeot 206, for example, differs from the average risk of personal driver injury in small cars as the confidence interval (59 to 69 %) does not include the estimate of average risk in all small cars (71 %).

Read the full report and find out what models are the most risky at www.roadlincs.com.

European New Car Assessment Programme
This programme, started in 1997, carries out car accident tests on new cars to provide consumer information on their performance. The Department of Transport, European Commission and various consumer organisations all support the programme.

By law, all car models have to pass various road traffic injury safety tests before they are sold. Legislation provides a minimum statutory standard of safety for new cars, and Europ NCAP has to encourage manufacturers to exceed these minimum requirements. Cars are given a star rating, with the Toyota Avensis receiving a 5-star rating in the large family car section.

Full test ratings and star ratings can be read at www.euroncap.com. Colour visuals are also available in PDF form on the website, for some models, showing parts of the vehicle which have particular points of weakness.

Claiming for a car accident
If you are driving a small car, your chances of being hurt in a road traffic accident are significantly higher. Unfortunately, many people drive smaller cars as they cost less and insurance premiums are lower. Cost-savings measures can therefore create more problems for the people who can least afford it.

If you have been involved in a car accident that was not your fault and have suffered a personal injury as a result, you could be eligible for compensation. Contact us on 0808 143 43 42 and we will talk you through the claims process and let you know whether you are entitled to claim. Our team of solicitors are expert in handling personal injury cases and have an excellent success rate.

In addition, you won't be charged a single penny during the course of your car accident claim and can even keep 100 % of any awarded compensation.