English
SpanishThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) releases an update on its Special Report 265 which studies and assigns a rating for rollover propensity for a variety of vehicles. The rating is one of the gold standards in the auto industry. This post will go over the rating and how it affects the safety of your car.
There are around 10,000 fatalities and 27,000 deaths a year in traffic accidents. Rollovers account for 10 percent of all “tow-away” crashes, however, they cause one-third of all fatalities. It is thus crucial that people understand the propensity for their car to rollover. It could save someone’s life if they adjust their driving styles accordingly.
Automobile crashes are complex incidents to unpack. According to NHTSA, all car crashes ultimately involve three main contributing factors and their interactions with the driver, the environment, and the car. The goal of the rating system is to control for driver and environmental factors. NHTSA determined that driver decisions (i.e. drinking) and inclement weather and curved roads are heavy influences that cause vehicle rollovers.
NHTSA utilizes a five-star rating system. The rating is derived from a correlation between stability and a series of factors that measure rollover. Most SUVs receive a two or three-star rating. Conversely, most passenger cars receive a four-star rating.
There are numerous factors that affect the safety of your car from seat belt design and airbags to the structural frame and center-of-gravity. There is no way to purchase a 100 percent safe car in all situations. If you were seriously injured in a rollover accident, you might want to contact a lawyer for assistance. NHTSA studiously reviews vehicle safety to ensure that cars on the market are as safe as reasonably possible. If you were injured in a rollover accident, it could be due to design or manufacturing defect or because of driver error. Regardless of the cause, a lawyer can assist you in pursuing fair compensation for your injuries.