Advancements in Automobile Safety

More than 37,000 people died in traffic crashes on U.S. roads in 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Though that number is significant, traffic fatalities have declined over the past 40 years. This trend is due, in part, to efforts to increase seat belt use and decrease impaired driving.

Technological advancements also have helped make driving safer. Seatbelts and airbags are better engineered. Also, many automobiles are now equipped with collision avoidance systems, which detect when a car is straying from its lane or approaching a hazard, and make automatic adjustments to help avoid auto accidents.

When you are buying a new or used car, you should consider looking for the below safety features, which can help protect you on the road. However, these advancements can present uncharted legal territory if an accident does occur. At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we keep current on what advancements in automobile safety are, and how they affect the law. Call us today at (312) 236-2900 or use our online contact form.

Popular new safety devices in automobiles

Many new safety devices use technology to automatically adjust the controls of a car and help avoid collisions. Popular collision avoidance technology includes:

• Adaptive cruise control, which uses sensors to detect cars or other objects in front of a vehicle, and automatically alters a car’s speed to avoid a crash.
• Autonomous emergency braking, which helps prevent high-speed crashes by slowing a car when it detects an imminent collision.
• Lane departure warning systems, which detect if a vehicle starts to stray from the road or enter another lane of traffic. These systems then alert the driver and take automatic corrective action.
• Electronic stability control, which helps keep drivers in control of their car if they start to skid or lose traction.
• Adaptive headlights, which make it easier to drive at dusk or at night by adjusting a car’s beams when it goes around curves or over hills.

In addition to these new features, older safety devices, such as seatbelts and airbags, have improved in recent years.

Seatbelts with shoulder straps are now standard in cars. Before the 1980s, not all cars had seatbelts, and many seatbelts only secured a passenger’s lap.
Airbag technology also has advanced. Many new cars are equipped with “smart airbags,” which use sensors to determine if they are safe to deploy. Side curtain and rollover airbags can offer protection if your car rolls over.

Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. can help

Advancements in automotive safety can help make it safer to drive. However, they also present new legal questions when accidents do occur. The lawyers at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. can help you navigate this changing legal landscape. Our car accident attorneys serve clients throughout the Chicago area, including Aurora, Elgin, Hinsdale, Joliet, Naperville, and Waukegan. If you’ve been hurt in an automobile accident, call an experienced lawyer today at (312) 236-2900 or use our online contact form.