The safety features of your car are incredibly important, especially as traffic fatalities have gone to an all-time high in 16 years according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Among all those affected by cars crashing, almost 43,000 people have died which is a 10.5% increase from the preceding year’s 38,824. This is why people need to invest in the safest compact cars to protect themselves from the issue that’s affecting every driver on the road. A safe automobile could save you from a whole lot of hurt. A lot of people don’t know what to look for when on the hunt for safe compact cars. This is why the team at Omega Law Group compiled a list of what features to look out for when buying a car.
EXCELLENT CRASH TEST SCORES
When shopping around for a car, you’re probably invested in knowing all about the safest car brands. Luckily for you, the NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) both conduct crash tests for most vehicles. Basically, the idea is the higher the crash rating, the more reliable the car. Both organizations apply different methodologies in their tests so it’s best to look into what each has to say about the vehicles you may be interested in.
HUGE SIZE AND HEAVY WEIGHT
Huge and heavy cars with hard exteriors will protect you from an accident more than any other vehicle. This is because they’re almost impenetrable. It’ll be really hard to impose any damages on a big car compared to a small one, especially if we factor in the car’s weight as well. Having a big car will put you at an advantage and will likely save your life. But there’s also a big responsibility that comes with operating a huge heavy-weight vehicle. Mainly, you will probably inflict a lot of damage to the car you’ll come into contact with in an accident. Therefore, you need to cruise down the road with extra caution.
ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS
Starting in 2012, Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) have become a legal requirement across all new vehicle models. If you’re buying your car brand new, this may be something you don’t need to worry about. However, if you’re looking into buying or are currently possessing a relatively old car model (before 2012), this may be something worth looking into. When you’re pushing your brakes, ABS prevents your wheels from locking up, restoring tire traction and allowing you to maintain control on the road.
FUNCTIONAL SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS
We were taught early on to wear a seat belt when we’re in the car, and this is for a good reason. According to the NHTSA, 51% of unrestrained passengers were killed in a car crash. This is why it’s incredibly important for your car to be fully equipped with functional seat belts. You also need to make sure that your airbags aren’t defective either. Several airbags have been placed under recall and may be responsible for your personal injury, counterproductive to its purpose. Click here to see if your vehicle possesses such airbags and have them replaced immediately!
BACK CAMERA
Back cameras come in handy when you’re trying to parallel park. But people tend to grossly underestimate just how much it can save lives. In June 2021, a man accidentally reversed his truck over his two-year-old toddler, killing him in the process. Kait Hanson of TODAY said that accidents akin to this incident happen at least 50 times per week. , As shown in the tragedy that befell the two-year-old and his family, simply looking behind you isn’t going to be enough. There could still be something – or someone – that you could accidentally run over. They may be just outside your sight range.
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Our awards and excellent testimonials are a result of our ability to empathize and attend to the needs of our clients. If you or a loved one is afflicted with an accident, reach out to our team. Visit our Contact Us page or call us at (310) 526-8383.
