New study reveals the most likely cars to be involved in an accident in New Jersey
4-Door Sedan came in first, with 33.0% of fatal crashes from 2017 to 2021.
NEW JERSEY – Four-door Sedan is the vehicle body type most likely to get into a severe crash in New Jersey, according to a new study conducted by personal injury lawyers Bader Scott.
By analyzing fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the experts calculated and ranked the body types of the cars involved in the most serious accidents from 2017 to 2021.
A 4-Door Sedan topped the list, as the vehicle type was involved in 1,393 crashes from 2017 to 2021, which amounts to 33.0% of all fatal crashes. By definition, a sedan is any closed-roof car with greater than or equal to 33 cubic feet of rear interior volume. Some examples of makes and models that fall under this category are the Toyota Prius, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Tesla Model 3 and the Chevrolet Impala.
Second on the list are Compact Utility, with 709 crashes, corresponding to 16.8% of all fatal crashes in the state. Generally, a compact vehicle is, by definition, small or midsize. At the same time, a ‘utility’ is any vehicle designed to perform a specific task more efficiently than a passenger vehicle. Examples of cars that fit this description are the Mazda CX-5, the Hyundai Tucson, and the Nissan Rouge.
Two-wheel Motorcycle are third, as cars within this body type were involved in 373 fatal crashes between 2017 and 2021, 8.84%. A motorized vehicle that is designed to be ridden by one or two people. It typically has two wheels arranged in line, with the rider straddling the vehicle while sitting on a seat.
Further down on the list, Light Pickup came in fourth place with a fatal crash count of 315, 7.46% of all fatal crashes, while Station Wagon closed the top five with 194 fatal crashes under their belt, which corresponds to 4.6%.
| Top 5 Vehicle Body types more likely to Get into a serious crash in New Jersey. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Vehicle | Number of Vehicles | Percentage of Crashes |
| 1 | 4-Door Sedan | 1,393 | 33.0% |
| 2 | Compact Utility | 709 | 16.8% |
| 3 | Two-Wheel Motorcycle | 373 | 8.84% |
| 4 | Light Pickup | 315 | 7.46% |
| 5 | Station Wagon | 194 | 4.6% |
“Even though it’s impossible to rule out other factors such as road conditions and driver behavior, it’s crucial to recognize that certain vehicle body types might be more vulnerable to serious crashes due to factors like size and design. Therefore, it’s important for drivers to be aware of this when on the road, and aim to drive in a way that helps to minimize risk,” a spokesperson for Bader Scott said.
