How to Choose a Safe Car
If you’re planning to buy a new vehicle, there are several things you have to look into, but likely none as crucial as safety. Even if it means a higher cost, that’s still way better than being in an accident and having to find a car accident lawyer.
Before you proceed with that car purchase, go over the following for your own safety:
Crash Test Scores
Cars with good crash test scores are more effective at protecting their occupants than those that didn’t score as well. Scores are given by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also does these tests, but IIHS tests are stricter. A good crash test score can be your first step in avoiding injuries and having to find a car accident lawyer later on.
Side Airbags
Frontal crashes are the most common, followed by side impacts, but rear, side and front crashes are often the least tragic. Be sure the vehicle you choose has side head airbags, one for every seat, as well as torso airbags at minimum for every person in front. Protecting the head and torso, side bags can considerably minimize the risk of fatalities as a result of a side impact collision. Airbags can truly be a lifesaver, and while it’s not difficult to find a car accident lawyer these days, even the slightest injuries are just not worth the risk.
Electronic Stability Control
Electronic Stability Control is among the most essential safety features a car can have. In simple terms, it is the multi-directional equivalent of the anti-lock braking system (ABS), which prevents skidding and losing control when you make sharp turns. Braking forces are applied on each and every tire, which helps vehicle go in the same direction as the steering wheel. It is estimated that with this feature, the risk of a fatal single-vehicle crash will be cut into half. Surely, this makes a large difference, considering that some half of vehicular fatalities in the country yearly are single-vehicle crashes. An ESC is probably going to increase your costs a bit, but again, it’s more economical in the long run when you can skip having to find a car accident lawyer.
Ride Height
This one is simple: if your head is higher than the front end of the car that rams into you, you’re considerably more likely to make it without serious brain damage.
At the end of the day, you can live with a car that has no power windows, no DVD player, and the like. However, if the vehicle cannot protect you in a crash, then it is not worth having at all. If you do encounter an accident, it shouldn’t be so hard to find a car accident lawyer, but first, be sure to make it.