New Car Safety Features Can Prevent Fatal Auto Accidents in Georgia

There are over six million car accidents annually that result in over 40,000 car accident related fatalities and another two million people suffering permanent injuries. A new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that 66 new car models including 40 cars and 25 SUVs earned the organization's highest vehicle safety rating.

The report suggests that vehicles are getting safer to drive because the number of vehicles getting the highest vehicle safety rating has doubled since the start of 2010. While serious auto accidents will remain a leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries, improvements in vehicle safety standards can help reduce both the number of accidents as well as the number of fatalities and catastrophic injuries. At Montlick and Associates, our caring team of attorneys and staff has been representing those seriously injured or killed in fatal Georgia car accidents for over 39 years. Our experienced accident attorneys are dedicated to providing exceptional service to each of our clients, and we have helped thousands of families get the compensation they deserve since 1984.

Although many car wrecks are caused by driver negligence, safety equipment can reduce the likelihood that driver error results in a fatal collision, or reduce the seriousness of injuries. Common unsafe driving practices or traffic violations that result in serious motor vehicle accidents include the following:

• Following too close
• Failure to yield
• Driving too fast for road or weather conditions
• Failing to obey stops signs
• Running stoplights
• Aggressive driving such as an unsafe lane changes or unsafe passing
• Distracted driving

Even when other drivers on the road engage in these types of negligent driving practices, a vehicle's safety rating can have a significant influence on whether evasive maneuvers or a sudden emergency results in an auto collision and whether anyone is seriously injured or killed. The wide array of safety features now being offered as standard equipment is included even on economy vehicles. If you are considering purchasing a new vehicle, the vehicle's safety rating is an important consideration that should not be overlooked. Some safety features that are now becoming standard in many cars, trucks and SUVs include the following:

High Roof Strength Ratings: A vehicle with a high roof safety rating is very important in preventing crush injuries and ejections from vehicles particularly in SUV rollover accidents.

Head and Torso Side Airbags: Side impact and side-curtain airbags have not been standard safety equipment but can prevent serious head and neck injuries during a serious collision.

Electronic Stability Control: These systems can prevent accidents by applying the brakes when a driver performing evasive maneuvers oversteers to avoid a collision. The systems apply the brakes individually as necessary to prevent loss of control of the vehicle and rollover accidents.

While no safety equipment can remove the risk of serious auto accidents, auto industry improvements can help reduce both the frequency of car accidents and fatality rates. This recent report is encouraging in that is indicates standard head and torso side airbags and electronic stability control are now standard features on many 2011 vehicle models:

• Passenger Cars: 92 percent
• SUVs: 94 percent
• Pickup Trucks: 56 percent

Although this report is encouraging, it makes clear there are still millions of vehicles on the road that do not come equipped with these commonsense safety features that can prevent fatal car crashes and car accident related fatalities. If you are considering purchasing a new vehicle, you should consider whether the vehicle comes equipped with this safety equipment. Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, represents people seriously injured or killed in Georgia car accidents including those who are injured by defective vehicles or lacking life-saving safety equipment. Our Experienced Georgia car wreck attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter where you are located, we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you.