Top 10 Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes by Make in Kansas

Many people are involved in fatal collisions in Kansas each year. Some of these accidents are entirely preventable, and others could have resulted in significantly reduced injuries if proper safety steps were taken.

For example, in July, a 19-year-old man in Kansas City lost control of his car, and he died in a three-car collision in part because he failed to wear a seatbelt.

Another tragic example of a fatal car accident near Kansas City occurred when a 39-year-old woman frantically hopped behind the wheel of a car to escape a sexual attacker who threatened her inside her own home.

She was under duress while driving because of the event inside her home, and she was not wearing a seatbelt when she collided with a roadside object. Friends state that it was not characteristic of her not to wear a seatbelt, which indicates that even a single incident of not being fastened can have deadly consequences.

If you’re concerned about safeguarding yourself and your car in case of an accident, enter your ZIP code above and compare at least three to four policies today!

Types of Fatal Accidents

Fatal car accidents are typically categorized in two different ways. An accident may be a sudden death fatal accident, which means that at least one of the victims died immediately at the scene of the accident. This type of accident implies severe injuries, but the victim usually did not suffer or require medical attention.

While this can be a devastating event for all parties involved, the facts that the victim did not suffer and that no medical expenses were incurred are crucial points.

The other type of fatality is an eventual death fatal car accident. With an eventual death car accident fatality, the accident resulted in at least one fatality.

However, the injuries did not result in immediate death, and the victim may have been hospitalized for days or even weeks before succumbing to the injuries. This type of event could cause extreme pain and suffering as well as costly medical bills.

Distracted Driving in Kansas

There are many causes of fatal car accidents in Kansas, but one of the more significant or common causes is distracted driving. In fact, one out of every 10 fatal car accidents in the United States is caused by some type of distracted driving, which could have been prevented if the driver had taken steps to avoid distractions behind the wheel.

Distractions while driving are usually categorized as being:

• Visual — Diverts the driver’s eyes from the road or from the activities of driving, such as if you are reading a roadmap
• Manual — Pulls at least one of the driver’s hands off of the steering wheel, such as while smoking a cigarette or eating a sandwich
• Cognitive — Takes the driver’s mental focus off of driving, such as when a cell phone rings in the car, anything that turns your mind away from driving, or even hands-free services.

Some distractions may fall into two or all three categories. There are many sad stories about distracted driving throughout the state. For example, at one particularly dangerous intersection in Wichita, 11 of 14 accidents were caused by distracted driving.

In one specific fatal car accident in Platte City, a distracted driver plowed into the back of another car while driving with distractions, which resulted in the unfortunate death of three individuals. These deaths could have been avoided if the driver was paying attention to the road.

Top 10 Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes in Kansas

(Click here for interactive graph)

#10 – Buick / Opel

Established: 1899
Vehicles Involved: 8

Buick is a premiere automotive manufacturer in North America, and its headquarters is in Detroit.

For decades, the brand was equated to reliability and sophistication alike. In recent years, this automaker has continued to impress drivers with quality vehicles while trying to appeal to a younger demographic with its many high-end features.

Throughout the continent, some of the many Buick models that you may find on the road include the Enclave, the Regal, the LaCrosse, and others.

#9 – Jeep/Kaiser-Jeep/Willys-Jeep

Established: 1941
Vehicles Involved: 9

Originally, Jeep was founded as a military vehicle manufacturer to aid in war efforts, but when World War II ended, the company refocused its efforts on the mainstream consumer market.

Many consumers over the years have been drawn to the rugged style and overall dependability that Jeep is known for because of its inception as a military vehicle company.

In more recent decades, however, Jeep has revamped its image to appeal to an even broader market with its more sophisticated models. A few of the current models of Jeep now available include:

• The Compass
• The Liberty
• The Grand Cherokee, and many others

#8 – Datsun / Nissan

Established: 1933
Vehicles Involved: 11

Nissan is a highly reputable and established automotive manufacturer that is well-known for creating attractive models loaded with great features.

Currently, Nissan is the world’s fourth largest automotive manufacturer and ranks first in major countries, such as China, Russia, and Mexico.

While the Nissan Leaf was the most popular electric vehicle worldwide in 2016, some of the popular gas-powered vehicles that are made by Nissan include the Rogue, the Titan truck, the Maxima and Altima sedans, and others.

#7 – GMC

Established: 1911
Vehicles Involved: 12

Since 1911, GMC has been manufacturing personal and commercial vehicles for use in countries around the world. It has a headquarters in Detroit as well as manufacturing facilities in many locations.

While its trucks are known for durability, it also creates higher-end and sophisticated SUVs that have a reputation for having sophisticated and innovative features. Popular current models manufactured by GMC include the Canyon truck, the Envoy, the Yukon, and the Acadia.

#6 – Pontiac

Established: 1926
Vehicles Involved: 14

Pontiac was originally a brand that operated under the parent company GM, but it soon branched off and formed its own independent company.

The brand has been defunct since 2010, but many of its models are still on the road in Kansas and beyond, which is a testament to how well-made these vehicles were.

A few models that you may find on the road today are the Aztec, the Sunbird, the Firebird, and the Bonneville.

#5 – Honda

Established: 1946
Vehicles Involved: 15

Honda has been a well-respected automotive manufacturer for many decades, and it also is well-known for making many other motorized machines, such as lawnmowers, planes, motorcycles, and many other types of products.

While Honda has a reputation for making products that are both practical and functional, it also is transforming its image to appeal to environmentally-aware consumers with its many hybrid models of vehicles.

While Honda also owns the Acura brand, some of the vehicles that you will find on the road under the Honda brand are the Accord and Civic sedans, the Insight, the Odyssey mini-van, the CR-V, and others.

#4 – Toyota

Established: 1937
Vehicles Involved: 17

Headquartered in Japan, Toyota is the largest automaker worldwide.

Under its own brand, it manufactures more than 10 million vehicles each year.

It also sells vehicles under the popular Scion and Lexus brands. While Lexus is a higher-end or luxury brand, Toyota is also a sophisticated brand that is known for providing drivers with value and innovation.

A few of the popular Toyota models on the market today include:

• The Tundra pickup truck
• The Camry
• The hybrid Prius
• The Corolla

#3 – Dodge

Established: 1900
Vehicles Involved: 26

Since Dodge vehicles were first introduced to the first automotive buyers in the early 1900s, this brand has worked hard to develop a reputation for being stylish yet durable. Its brand for quality extends to its mini-vans and trucks as well as its sedans.

As one of the world’s oldest automakers, this is a brand that has proven its incredible staying power in the market. The Durango, the Charger, the Viper, the Ram truck, and the Challenger are among the popular Dodge models on the road today.

#2 – Ford

Established: 1903
Vehicles Involved: 45

The Ford Model T was the first automobile to be mass-produced and sold in large numbers to the public, and this model made the Ford company a household name more than a century ago.

Its devotion to innovation extended beyond the manufacturing process and into the vehicles themselves, and some of the many modern models on the market today are loaded with technological and safety features that will impress most buyers.

A few of the many Ford models that you may see on Kansas roads include the Fiesta, the Focus, the F-150 truck, the Mustang, and others. Both Lincoln and Motorcraft are brands owned by Ford.

#1 – Chevrolet

Established: 1911
Vehicles Involved: 66

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, this is one of the top American automakers today.

Its SUVs, trucks, cars, and vans are sold around the world, and the brand appeals to budget-minded shoppers as well as to higher-end shoppers with its many different models of smaller and larger vehicles. The Tahoe, Suburban, Camaro, Silverado, and others are popular models made by Chevrolet today.

Tips to Avoid Fatal Car Accidents in Kansas

Kansas is a state that is well-known for its long expanses of flat, straight roads.

While you might think that this would be one of the safer places to drive in the United States, the reality is that such dull driving conditions can lull drivers into a false sense of security and make them less aware of their surroundings at times.

Strong winds, tornadoes, and other weather conditions are also relatively common, adding to the dangers associated with driving in this state.

If you plan to spend time driving on Kansas roads, you need to plan ahead so that you can follow a few important safety tips while behind the wheel, such as:

• Avoid all types of distracted driving. Put your cell phone out of reach, and avoid eating, smoking, and other dangerous distractions while driving your vehicle.
• Plan your route ahead of time, and do not rely on your GPS or phone to guide your way. If you need instructions to get to your destination, pull off the road to a safe area before looking at a map.
• Consider how you will stay awake and alert while driving, such as by listening to an audio book while driving. Never drive while you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or when you are fatigued. Ideally, you will be well-rested and completely alert while driving.
• Check the road and weather conditions before you head out on even a short trip in Kansas, and avoid driving when bad weather conditions will be present. Daytime driving is also preferable over driving at night.
• Always wear your seatbelt, and ensure that everyone in the car is properly buckled at all times.
• Drive at or below the posted speed limit. Use cruise control to avoid speeding on long stretches of open roads.
• Get your vehicle properly serviced on a regular basis, and ensure that your tires are properly aired and have ample tread before each trip.

Are you looking to drive through Kansas soon? Enter your ZIP code below first and make sure you are fully covered for auto insurance. Start comparison shopping today!