Why Modern Vehicles are Safer if You Have an Accident

If you haven’t kept up with the design improvements and new technology that’s led to greater safety improvements in the auto industry, you’re in for a surprise. While not all accidents are completely avoidable, personal injury is sometimes preventable through better auto design. 

Riding in style as an influencer doesn’t mean neglecting your safety. Seat belts save lives and they’re still the best option. However, it’s useful to outline why newer cars are worth the investment beyond pure aesthetics. So, let’s dive in.

Powerful Passenger Section

The front cabin of a car is the most likely to sustain damage in a crash. Even an impact from the front-side of a vehicle could potentially crush the interior. However, due to improved design, the risks are less than they once were. 

At the front, the dashboard, steering column, pedals, panels at the front and side, and the roof, are all protected from crushing inwards. This includes the doors which usually can still be opened on a front or front-side collision to exit the vehicle. 

Zones Designed to Protect from Crumpling

It used to be that a fast impact would cause a car to sustain major damage where the metal and plastic broke and folded inwards. This was a potential hazard for the driver and front passenger too. 

Crumple zones, as they become known, are specially created, and tested to absorb the kinetic energy of an impact. As they absorb energy, it also slows the speed down. Effectively, the front section of the vehicle ahead of the passenger cabin acts as a buffer to protect the passengers. 

Seat Belts

Seat belts have improved significantly too. With a crash, the body would be violently pushed forward at speed into the steering wheel, dashboard, or if seated in the rear, into the back of the seating in front. 

Instead, seat belts have been continually improved to correctly restrain all passengers. They increase tension depending on the speed of the movement. This is why even retracting the seat belt to put it on causes it to stop and start several times if doing so too quickly. 

Air Bags

When airbags were first offered, they were originally sometimes only fitted on the driver’s side to protect their head from an impact with the steering wheel. However, later it became more obvious that a passenger in the front seat needed protection too.

It’s common to see new vehicles fitted with side airbags too. Furthermore, even when a side impact is initially on the left, the car could be pushed into a wall or another vehicle on the right-side too. Therefore, it’s beneficial when airbags are fitted on both sides. 

What to Do If You’re in an Accident

Despite the latest safety improvements to car design, some accidents are unavoidable. Indeed, around 10,000 accidents happen each year in many states. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, then a lawyer specializing in car accidents can assist.

You can visit this URL to know how a lawyer can confirm what actions must be taken and guide you through the process. As well as providing a valuable legal perspective, they make a bad day a little easier to handle.  

Hopefully, you’ll stay safe. But driving (or traveling in) newer vehicles and knowing who to call should an accident occur is sensible too. 

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