Buyer Beware! A Safe Vehicle is More Than the Latest Safety Features
Buying a vehicle with safety features makes sense if you want to improve your chances of avoiding or surviving a crash, but it’ll take more than that. Recent research shows that some of the most dangerous cars on the road are also highly rated for safety. Car accident attorneys & experts at Castillo & Associates will discuss how safety ratings and safe cars may be two different things.
Castillo & Associates’ Pomona auto accident attorneys represent many clients injured in vehicle crashes so they can obtain the most compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial harm they suffer. If you’re the victim of a severe accident, call car accident attorney & expert Attorney Domingo Castillo from Castillo and Associates at 800-497-9774 today for a Free Consultation.
The 23 Most Dangerous Cars
Research by iSeeCars shows the 23 most dangerous passenger vehicles on the road. Dangerous is defined as the likelihood that a car will be in a fatal accident compared to the overall chances of such a collision.
The most dangerous cars are the following:
- Hyundai Venue
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Mitsubishi Mirage
- Porsche 911
- Honda CR-V Hybrid
They all have fatal accident rates almost five times higher than the average vehicle. Smaller compact and subcompact cars are the most likely to have fatal accidents by size, at 3.6 fatal accidents for every billion miles driven.
Full-size models have the lowest rates, or 2.0 fatal crashes for every billion miles. But some larger vehicles have high rates of deadly crashes, including the Ford Bronco (an SUV) and the Dodge Charger (a sports car). SUVs’ center of gravity is higher than that of other vehicles, and they are more likely to roll over in a crash. The smaller the SUV, the higher the risk of a fatal crash.
Two Tesla electric vehicles, the Model Y and Model S, made the list (at eight and 21), despite the fact Tesla vehicles have advanced driver-assist technology, which is supposed to help drivers avoid car accidents. They include stopping the car to prevent rear-ending someone else and warning of sideswiping another vehicle in the next lane. The most advanced systems allow “hands-free” driving, but the driver must remain in control.
How Well Do Dangerous Vehicles Rate for Safety?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Data Loss Institute rated the 2024 models of three of the five most dangerous cars for two safety factors (crashworthiness and seat belts and child restraints) as follows:
- Hyundai Venue: Good and acceptable, depending on the feature
- Mitsubishi Mirage: A mix of good and incomplete
- Honda CR-V: Overall, good and acceptable
The 2024 Tesla Model Y was chosen as a “top safety pick.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also has a five-star safety rating system. The
Hyundai Venue and the Mitsubishi Mirage each received four stars. The Tesla Model Y received five.
What are the Most Dangerous Vehicle Brands?
When ranked by brand, the most dangerous cars are the following:
- Tesla
- Kia
- Buick
- Dodge
- Hyundai
Whether because of their vehicle design, driver behavior, or a combination, Tesla has twice as many fatal crashes compared to other brands, according to Fast Company. Some factors may be defects with Teslas, including the following:
- Some occupants may be unable to open doors if there’s no power
- Their “Autopilot” hands-free driving feature has caused accidents, and drivers may ignore road conditions due to overconfidence in the system
- Batteries have caught fire, sometimes as a result of a collision
- Teslas are some of the fastest-accelerating cars, and drivers may create dangerous situations when driving too fast
If a defect makes your vehicle unsafe to drive, you and others injured in a crash may be able to pursue a product liability case against the manufacturer and all those responsible for putting it into the marketplace. If you’ve been an in auto accident, call our office for a free consultation today at 1-800-497-9774.
Following a Collision, Protect Your Rights by Speaking to a Skilled & Experienced Car Crash Lawyer and Inland Empire Auto Accident Attorney from the Castillo & Associates Law Firm
No matter the safety features or ratings of your vehicle, you can still get injured or killed in an accident. How you and others drive will probably play a much bigger role in whether you make it to your destination or end up in a hospital.
Contact the Accident Lawyers at Castillo & Associates’ Inland Empire auto accident lawyers if you’re injured in a vehicle accident. California auto accident claims have a strict deadline. If you miss it, your ability to collect compensation will end. After we’re retained, we will thoroughly investigate your case, gather evidence, and protect your right to full compensation.
Car accident Castillo & Associates has more than 25 years of legal experience and has recovered $700+ Million in client compensation, benefits & settlements for our injured clients. Call us at 800-497-9774 or contact us online today to talk to an experienced Inland Empire car accident lawyer. We are ex-insurance claims adjusters from Allstate Insurance and Farmers Insurance ready to get you the best settlement for your claim. We have 5 offices throughout Southern California.
Attorney Domingo Castillo handles workers’ compensation, personal injury, family law & immigration throughout Southern California from our 5 offices: Indio, Pomona, Riverside, San Diego & Cathedral City. We help clients file injury claims, obtain residency & citizenship, and we assist families through divorce, child custody and all family law matters.
