If you own a newer vehicle in Tennessee, then chances are that it comes with electronic stability control and side airbags. The safety benefits cannot be denied; ESC, in particular, can be as effective as seat belts in preventing car crash deaths. It helps a vehicle maintain control on sharp curves and wet or icy roads.
Many drive older cars without these features
In August 2020, the journal Traffic Injury Prevention published the results of a study showing how the two age groups with the highest car crash risk tend to drive older vehicles without ESC or side and curtain airbags: namely, teens and people aged 65 and older. The Center for Injury Research and Prevention, a team of researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, conducted the study.
Income naturally plays a part
To arrive at their conclusions, researchers analyzed all the car crashes reported in New Jersey between 2010 and 2017. Using the VIN, they determined each vehicle’s model year, type and engine power in addition to whether it had ESC and side airbags.
Researchers found that regardless of age, drivers in lower-income neighborhoods were much more likely to own older vehicles. These drivers are also involved in a disproportionate number of fatal accidents. Researchers emphasize that lower-income drivers can purchase safe vehicles for as low as $7,000.
Legal representation for injury victims
After being injured in a crash through no fault of your own, you want to be reimbursed for your losses. This could mean pursuing a personal injury case against the responsible driver’s insurance provider. You may want to schedule a case evaluation with a lawyer to find out how much you might be eligible for in damages. The lawyer may be able to negotiate on your behalf for that amount, litigating if all else fails.
