How Vehicle Bumpers Perform in Tampa, Florida Area Car Accidents

As you drive through Tampa, Brandon, Carrollwood, Clearwater, St Petersburg, and other high-traffic areas, you may take comfort in the fact that, if you were to get in a car accident, your vehicle is built to withstand the impact. After all, rear end collisions and fender benders happen all the time in stop-and-go traffic, and that's what bumpers are for, right?

Well, yes and no. Federal standards have varied over the past 25-30 years, but in general, the latest automobile bumpers should be able to withstand a crash at 2.5 miles per hour without damaging other parts of the vehicle. Some vehicle bumpers can withstand an impact of up to 9 miles per hour without visible damage. This may be great for your auto body repair costs and the appearance of your car, but not so great if you happen to be a driver or passenger in the vehicle being hit from behind.

The problem with many bumpers is that they do not crumple and absorb the force of the impact in the same way that other parts of your car are designed to do. So, if you are hit on the bumper, even at very low speeds, the force of the impact will be transferred to you and anyone else inside the vehicle. The result is whiplash and other soft tissue injuries that cause neck pain, stiffness, headaches, back pain, spinal disc problems, muscle stiffness, and more.

Another point of debate is the fact that vans, pickups, and SUVs are not covered under the same bumper rules as automobiles. While cars must be equipped with bumper systems within a zone of 16-20 inches from the ground, trucks, vans, and SUVs don't have to have bumpers at all. Of course, many trucks, vans, and SUVs do have bumpers, but they are often placed considerably higher than the federal standard for car bumper zones.

The end result is, if a car and truck collide, their bumper zones do not match up. Most SUV, van, and truck bumpers are able to slide past a car's bumper system and impact the vehicle body directly. Tests in 2008 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that a sedan being hit by a truck or SUV with considerably taller bumpers can cause more than $4,700 worth of damage. When you compare this to the approximately $1,500 worth of damage between vehicles with compatible bumpers, it becomes apparent that bumpers cannot be fully depended upon to protect your vehicle from damage or you from injury.

If you have been injured in a car accident in the Tampa, Florida area—even a low impact, bumper-to-bumper accident—it is a good idea to speak to an attorney about your rights to be reimbursed for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. Tampa car accident lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. offers free initial consultations to injury victims throughout the greater Tampa Bay, Florida area. Please contact our law firm today by calling us or filling out the form on our "Do I have a Case?" page, and we will be happy to assist you.