Are you considering a new vehicle? While style, fuel economy, and tech features are important, safety should be your top priority. Recent data shows that the type of vehicle you drive can significantly impact your risk of being involved in an accident. From subcompact cars to pickup trucks, certain vehicle classes and models consistently appear in crash statistics more than others. This blog post will rank the top five types of vehicles with the most crashes and tell you the critical factors you should consider when making your next car purchase to help you navigate the roads with greater peace of mind.
The types of vehicles that tend to get in the most crashes typically fall into the following five categories, based on crash statistics and insurance data:
Table of Contents
1. Passenger Cars (especially small cars)
Why?
- They’re the most common vehicles on the road, so statistically they’re involved in more crashes.
- Smaller cars tend to offer less protection in crashes and can be less visible to larger vehicles.
Examples: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus
2. Motorcycles
Why?
- Less visibility to other drivers
- Lack of protective structure
- More prone to serious injury or fatal crashes
Crash Severity: Extremely high fatality rate per mile compared to cars.
3. SUVs (especially smaller or sportier models)
Why?
- Higher center of gravity increases rollover risk
- Some drivers may overestimate SUV capabilities (e.g., off-road handling)
However: Newer SUVs have significantly improved in safety and crash avoidance.
4. Pickup Trucks
Why?
- Often used in rural areas with higher-speed crashes
- May have lower safety features compared to passenger cars (especially older models)
- Sometimes driven more aggressively
Notes: Trucks are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than regular cars, especially when factoring in single-vehicle accidents.
5. Commercial Trucks (in terms of crash impact, not frequency)
Why?
- They’re less likely to be at fault, but when involved, the crashes are often severe due to size and weight.
Vehicles Often Involved in High Crash Rates (by model)
According to insurance data and IIHS crash statistics, some models with higher-than-average crash claim rates include:
- Subaru WRX – Associated with faster driving
- Dodge Charger – Often linked with aggressive driving
- Chevrolet Camaro – Sports cars in general tend to be in more high-speed accidents
Injured In An Accident? Get Legal Help
If you or someone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle crash, our experienced attorneys can help. A free consultation is available by phone 602-910-6779, email or visit our car accident section.