Purchasing a car with 5-star safety ratings may reduce the risk of severe injury or death in a Naples car accident , but it doesn’t give motorists a free pass to drive recklessly or get distracted when they are operating these highly rated vehicles. Safety ratings only help consumers make an informed decision on what vehicle is most equipped to withstand a rollover crash or other dangerous rear-end or forward collision impacted crash.
Our Cape Coral car accident lawyers agree that car safety is an important consideration when purchasing a vehicle but nothing can guarantee safety like motorists playing it safe every time they get behind the wheel. However, consumers are encouraged to check out crash test ratings before you purchase if you want to reduce the risk of injury to you or your family in a collision involving a drunk, distracted or aggressive driver in South Florida.
Family Car Guide recently reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is in the process of finishing up crash testing for 2011 models but has recently released the list of more than seventy 2012 models that will be put through rigorous testing next year. The 2012 vehicle list will be comprised of 42 passenger cars, 2 minivans, 8 pickup trucks and 22 SUVs and crossovers which is over 80 percent of the vehicle models on the projected market for 2012.
The following are samples of some of the 2012 vehicles being tested:
-Family cars: Chevrolet Impala, Cadillac CTS, Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300, Toyota Camry, Volvo S60 and the Volkswagen Passat.
-Minivans: Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Town & Country.
-SUVs and crossovers: Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sorento and Subaru Outback.
For a full list of which vehicles will be crash tested and assessed a star rating for 2012, visit NHTSA online.
In a recent press release, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated “Our 5-star ratings program is a critical resource to help consumers make the best possible decisions about the cars they want to buy. People should remember: More stars, safer cars.”
In recent years, crash avoidance technology has been an important added feature in warning motorists that they are about to leave the roadway, veer over the center line or hit someone or something head-on or from behind. For the first time ever, the NHTSA will make recommendations to consumers about vehicles containing forward collision warnings (FCW), lane departure warnings (LDW) or both features. Last model year crash avoidance technologies were offered in 45 vehicles as optional equipment. There are 68 models for 2012 that have FCW (18), LDW (12) or both features (38) standard equipped in the vehicle.
Safercar.gov will post the results of the Government 5-star safety ratings program for the selected 2012 models once the crash tests have been performed. You will also be able to find the NHTSA’s recommendations for which vehicles have the best crash avoidance technologies for 2012 models available on this website.
If you have been severely injured in a car accident involving a defective vehicle in Cape Coral, Sebring, Fort Myers or Naples, contact Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured for an knowledgeable explanation regarding your rights. Experienced injury lawyers are available for a free appointment to discuss your case in detail by calling 1-800-283-2900.
Additional Resources:
NHTSA’s 2012 Vehicle List for Five-Star Safety Rating Program, by Suzanne Kane, Family Car Guide.
More Blog Entries:
Lawmakers Could Put Blame on Drivers for Vehicle Defects in Fort Myers Car Accidents, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, April 11, 2011.