Updated: November 26, 2024 by Sean McQuaid
Some types of vehicles are more prone to accidents than others; in this article, we’ll look at what types of vehicles get into the most accidents. There are several factors that make some cars and motor vehicles more prone to car crashes than others, including the brand, size, design, model, color, and more.
Knowing what types of vehicles get into the most accidents will help you avoid them, especially if you own one of these types of vehicles. Keep reading to find out some of the top contributing factors for car crashes and which vehicles are most accident prone.
Types of Vehicles Most Likely to Get Into an Accident
Even the most cutting edge cars with the most up to date safety features can get into accidents. But some factors create more potential to get into an accident. For instance, the size of a car, its maneuverability , the acceleration, and the blind spots can influence a vehicle’s susceptibility to accidents.
The following types of vehicles have a higher likelihood of getting into an accident than other cars on the road:
- Larger, heavy trucks such as commercial trucks and tractor trailers have a disproportionately high rate of accidents compared to other vehicles. Due to their massive size and extra weight, it’s more difficult to maneuver them in split seconds to avoid collisions. Trucks require much more time and distance to make stops, turns, and avoid a crash. Crash data figures show that one tenth of all traffic fatalities involve large trucks.
- With oversized trucks on one end of the spectrum, we have motorcycles on the other end. Motorcycles are small, compact, speedy, and easily hidden in other drivers’ blind spots. They account for only a small percentage of registered motor vehicles in Denver, yet they represent nearly 17% of traffic deaths.
- Another type of vehicle that has higher accident rates are Sports Utility Vehicles or SUVs. SUVs and large trucks that have four-wheel drive are simply more prone to accidents because they are bigger and heavier. While they aren’t as dangerous as Mack trucks and large commercial vehicles, they are certainly more dangerous than smaller occupant vehicles such as a sedan or hatchbacks. Such vehicles tend to get into more accidents while reversing or going parking in small spots or parallel parking.
Certain Colored Cars Get Into More Accidents Than Others
While it may seem ridiculous, statistics show that certain colored cars get into more accidents than others. However, since a car’s visibility plays a huge part in contributing to the accident, the color of the car does influence its accident likelihood.
- Bright colored cars get into less accidents. Cars that pop and stand out like red, orange, or pink are very visible and easy to see coming from a distance. Yellow is the safest color car to drive and has the lowest accident rate. Think about it, there’s probably a reason school buses and traditional taxi cabs are bright yellow. White cars are also involved in accidents less frequently than other colored cars due to their stark visibility (think of ambulances and certain police cars). It also depends on the setting. Colors that can easily blend with outdoor settings such as green or blue can be more dangerous in rural areas.
- Darker colored cars (e.g., brown, gray, dark blue) get into more crashes because they are difficult to see at night or with inclement weather conditions. Darker cars have nearly twice as much likelihood of being involved in a crash (47% percent according to an Australian study on car colors).
- By far, black cars are involved in the most accidents, having a 12% higher accident rate during the day and a 47% increase in probability for accidents at night.
- So, here is a ranking order of the car colors that are most likely to get into an accident to less likely:
- Black
- Grey
- Silver
- Blue
- Red
- Green
- Gold
- Orange
- White
- Yellow
Are There Other Factors Also Impact Crash Risk for Denver Motor Vehicle Collisions?
The Speed of a Car Can Contribute to Accident Likelihood
Speed is directly correlated with accident susceptibility. That means faster cars get into more accidents. For instance, the GMC Hummer EV can go from 0 to 60mph in merely three seconds. The Fort GT can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, and the Hennessey Camaro ZL1 HPE850 goes from 0 to 60mph in just 2.6 seconds. The fastest car in America as of November 2024 is the Dodge SRT Demon 170, which reaches 60 mph in just 1.66 seconds. Certain Tesla Models are ranked for the fastest cars and thus may be more likely to get into high speed accidents.
According to a study from insurify.com, here are the top 10 types of cars that received the highest volume of speeding tickets in 2021:
Subaru WRX
- Hyundai Genesis Coupe
- Kia Stinger
- Mazda 3
- Hyundai Veloster
- Subaru Impreza
- Volkswagen GTI
- Scion FR-S
- Subaru BRZ
While these cars may not be inherently dangerous, the fact that they get the most tickets reflects faster driving and thus a higher possibility of getting into a motor vehicle collision.
The Age of the Car Matters
Older cars have less safety features than newer cars, so drivers have less technology to help them maneuver and navigate roadways. Older vehicles lack safety features such as:
- Lane assist
- Lane departure warning
- Pedestrian detection
- Forward collision warning
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot detectors
- Auto brakes
- Dash cams
- Drowsy detector
- Rear cameras
- Seat belt warning
- Parking sensors
- And more
Safety features do not guarantee avoiding accidents, but can certainly help drivers catch, correct, or avoid human errors. Younger drivers often have lower budgets when they buy their first car and therefore may buy older cars. The mix of an older car with little to now safety features and a young, inexperienced driver can dramatically increase the likelihood of a collision.
Safest Cars in America in 2024
So now that we’ve discussed which vehicles are most likely to get into an accident, let’s review the safest types of vehicles. According to US News, here is a list of the safest cars in America in 2023 (based on safety scores from US News & World Report):
- Audi A7
- Acura Integra
- Mazda3
- Volvo S90
- Alfa Romeo Guilia
- Genesis GV60
- Volkswagen Arteon
- 2024 Genesis G80
- Kia EV6
- Acura TLX
- Subaru Impreza
Crash Data Reflecting Accidents Based on Vehicle Type
There are thousands of traffic accidents in the US every year, with 33,244 fatalities caused by motor vehicle collisions in a recent year. Denver alone observed 636 traffic fatalities in 2022.
Titlemax did some research to find which types of vehicles are getting into the most accidents. They analyzed data over the course of five years (2016 to 2020) to find out which makes and models are getting into the most fatal accidents in America. Here are the types of vehicles that were involved in the most accidents during that time period (from least to most accidents):
- Ford Explorer
- GMC Sierra
- Toyota Corolla
- Nissan Altima
- Honda Civic
- Dodge Ram
- Toyota Camry
- Honda Accord
- Ford F-150
- Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado had the highest accident rate between the years of 2016 to 2020, and was involved in over 8,700 fatal crashes. This may be because it is the second most sold car in the country. The best selling car in America is the Ford F-150, which comes in second place for the most fatal accidents. Ford F-150 also has the highest accident rate in Denver.
The other tops cars involved in the most fatal car accidents in recent years include Ford F-250, Chevrolet Impala, Freightliner Cascadia, Chevrolet Malibu, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Focus, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Tahoe, Toyota Tacoma, Ford Fusion, Ford Escape, Ford Mustang, Honda CR-V, Nissan Sentra, and Hyundai Elantra.
Tips to Prevent Car Accidents in Denver
Did you know that most car accidents occur within 25 miles of your house? That means drivers need to stay extra focused and stay attentive when they leave the house and when they are getting home. Often this is when drivers get too comfortable because they are so familiar with this comfort zone that it becomes almost second nature once they enter the neighborhood and pull into the driveway.
Here are some additional tips to help prevent accidents, no matter what type of car you drive, and reduce your chances of getting into a car accident.
- Follow traffic rules. You should be coming to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights, as well as checking both ways before proceeding to turn or go through an intersection.
- Wear your seatbelt, as this is by far the number one preventative measure you can take to save your life in the event of a crash. Seat Belts reduce the risk of accident fatality by nearly 50% for drivers and passengers in the front seat.
- Follow the posted speed limit. Doing so will help you stop in time if another driver suddenly slams on their brakes or if you need to avoid collision in a split second. Driving within the posted speed limit will also help you react safely if a pedestrian or animal comes running out into the road.
- Rear-end collisions are the most common types of crashes, so be sure to leave adequate distance between yourself and the driver in front of you. You need at least three seconds to safely stop behind another vehicle. If there is rain, poor visibility, or other inclement weather, give yourself more distance.
- Stay focused on the road and limit distractions. Don’t eat, text, drink, or talk on the phone while you drive unless you absolutely need to.
- Do not drive after drinking alcohol or using drugs.
If you were involved in a Denver car accident caused by a negligent driver, contact your Denver personal injury lawyers today to discuss your legal options.
Other Types Of Accident Cases Our Denver Personal Injury Lawyers Cover
In addition to car accidents, we also handle cases involving Denver motorcycle accidents, Denver pedestrian accidents, Denver truck accidents, and more.
Contact a Denver Personal Injury Lawyer Today
No matter how safe or experienced a driver you are, there’s always a chance that you could get into an accident. Sometimes, the type of car you drive can contribute to the likelihood that you’ll crash, so by being aware of this you can take extra precautions.
If you were involved in a car accident that was not your fault, you might be entitled to seek compensation from the other driver.
Contact our Denver car accident lawyers today for a free initial consultation.
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If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident, we are here to help. As Denver Personal Injury Lawyers, you are our priority, we listen to your needs and provide individual attention from start to finish. Through persistence, experience, and legal expertise, we handle the insurance companies and medical providers so that you can focus on recovering.
For more information please contact us at Denver Personal Injury Lawyers® to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today. We have five convenient locations in Denver and its surrounding areas to better serve you.
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