Southern California Side Impact Crashes – Will Your Car Protect You?
You don’t wake up one morning and decide that today would be a good day for a Southern California car accident. Car crashes, especially side-impact collisions, can be deadly. In fact, side-impact crashes accounted for 27 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2009. That statistic includes U.S. accidents only. Think about how many more people are killed around the world in these types of accidents.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a report that listed the results of a recent side-impact crash test. The test included only passenger vehicles with side airbags, which have become an extremely important safety feature. According to the Institute, drivers in vehicles that possessed a good rating for side-impact protection were 70 percent less likely to be killed in a left-side accident than vehicles with a poor rating.
Here are some other findings of the Institute’s crash test:
Drivers in vehicles with an acceptable rating for side-impact protection were 64 percent less likely to be killed.
Drivers in vehicles with a marginal rating for side-impact protection were 49 percent less likely to be killed.
Why is side-impact protection so important? When a car is hit head-on or from behind, there is somewhat of a barrier between the vehicle occupants and the other car. Not so in a side-impact crash. According to the Institute, “such crashes can be particularly deadly because the sides of vehicles have relatively little space to absorb energy and shield occupants.”
Before you buy your next car, make sure you understand the vehicle’s side-impact rating.
Know your rights after a Southern California side-impact accident. If you have been hurt in a Southern California car accident, you need to know your rights. If the other driver was negligent and caused the crash, you may be able to pursue compensation. Keep in mind that you face an uphill battle and working with the insurance company may prove difficult. An experienced California personal injury attorney will be able to guide you through the challenging process of obtaining compensation.
Don't fall victim to the insurance companies' tricks. The bottom line is that your rights may be in jeopardy. Find out what you are up against and what steps you need to take. You NEED to get this free book before you sign any forms, give any statements, or talk to any adjustors.
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