Forbes Compiles Its 2009 Most Dangerous Motor Vehicle List | Richmond Virginia Car Accident Lawyer

Forbes’ 2009 Most Dangerous Motor Vehicle List:

  1. Chevrolet Colorado
  2. Chevrolet Aveo
  3. Chevrolet Trailblazer
  4. Chrysler PT Cruiser
  5. Dodge Nitro
  6. Ford Ranger
  7. GMC Envoy
  8. GMC Canyon
  9. Hummer H3
  10. Hyandai Accent
  11. Jeep Liberty
  12. Jeep Wrangler
  13. Sukuki Equator
  14. Nissan Frontier
  15. Mazda B Series
  16. Kia Rio

According to Forbes magazine, financial troubles don’t seem to be stopping automakers from making unsafe motor vehicles.

“Definitely the economy is going to play a big role in some of this stuff,” says Doug Scott, senior vice president of GfK Automotive, a market research and consulting firm. “Things like safety are probably, if not put on hold, then money will simply be pulled from these sorts of things toward something else.”

This month, the media giant issued its list of the 16 “Most Dangerous Vehicles of 2009.” These cars are most likely to cause injury or death in an accident. Some cars scored well in some types of wrecks but very poorly in other types.

The list was compiled using results from tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). While the NHTSA issued up to 5-star ratings for rollover safety, the IIHS ranked vehicles based on the trauma that could result during frontal and side crashes. Forbes awarded point values for each rating, with more points given for better results.

The 16 vehicles on the list, made up mostly of small cars, SUVs and trucks, scored the lowest number of compiled points.

The Kia Rio sedan, the Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV, and the Ford Ranger pickup scored the lowest points.

While Forbes is quick to caution that just because a motor vehicle made the 2009 list doesn’t mean that a consumer shouldn’t buy the vehicle, the media giant says that it is very important for consumers to be aware of in which areas of safety each vehicle failed to perform well, as well as the car most suited for a driver’s individual needs.

The safest cars are generally mid-size sedans, crossovers and wagons. None of these types of cars made the list. Forbes also recommends that buyers know whether their vehicle comes with rear head restraints, standard side-curtain airbags, and electronic stability control (ESC). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that ESC decreases the chances of passenger rollovers by 64%, single-car collisions by 26%, and single crash SUV rollovers by 85%.

Don’t forget to check for safety of rear end collisions. According to consumer reports, a rear ender happens every 17 seconds in the US. Whiplash isn’t fatal but it can cause severe injury that is difficult to treat properly.