All motor vehicles on the road have specific safety features to protect the occupants if there is an accident. Most people don’t think about them when they get into the car, but you will realize how important they are if you are in a wreck.
As new year models come out, more safety features are added. This makes newer vehicles somewhat safer than older models, but there is no reason for people who have cars with more features to drive in an unsafe manner. Most vehicles will have at least the following:
Seat belts
Despite being invented in 1849, it wasn’t until 1966 that seat belts became standard equipment in vehicles. Now, seat belts usage is mandated by state laws, and for good reason. This safety feature keeps the occupant firmly in place if there is a crash or rollover. It is no secret that they save lives, so nobody in a moving vehicle should be without one securely fastened.
Airbags
In 1998, airbags became standard in vehicles. Chrysler was ahead of everyone else with this feature because it was the first manufacturer to make them standard starting in 1988. Airbags provide an instant cushion to protect the head from slamming against the steering wheel or dashboard. Side airbags that are located in doors are also commonplace and prevent the head from slamming against the window.
Bumpers
Although bumpers were one of the first safety features on vehicles, they remain one of the most important. They provide shock absorption, which can minimize the effect of the crash impact on the occupants of the car. The bumper of the vehicle should always be thoroughly evaluated after a crash to determine if the integrity was impaired.
Integrated technology
Some features, such as crash avoidance, stability control, and automatic braking, aren’t standard on all vehicles yet. As time progresses, they likely will become regular features in new vehicles. These technologies shouldn’t be viewed as failsafe features. Instead, they are merely assistive ones that work along with a safe driver to reduce overall dangers on the roads.
Even when these safety features are present in your vehicle, there is a still a chance that you will suffer an injury if you are in a crash. You should seek medical care if this occurs so you can find out what’s wrong and address the problems. This can also help you if you decide that you are going to seek compensation for the wreck. Your claim is one step that might shift the financial liability from you to the person who caused the crash.
