Modern vehicles are much safer than the cars and trucks of the past. Car accidents are still one of the top reasons for fatalities in the United States, with roughly 40,000 people losing their lives every year. But the numbers used to be higher in the 1970s, especially when considering the number of fatalities per mile driven. In this sense, the roads have been getting safer.
Much of the reason for this is that cars have dramatically improved. There are two ways that safety systems work to keep you safe when you’re on the road.
Preventing an accident
First of all, modern technology often focuses on preventing accidents from ever occurring. Examples include blindspot monitoring systems, automatic braking systems, collision warning systems and backup cameras. When these function properly, they can prevent accidents that otherwise may have felt unavoidable. An automatic braking system may stop a driver from rear-ending another car before that driver even realizes traffic is slowing down.
Preventing serious injuries
Secondly, your car has safety systems that are created to prevent serious or fatal injuries. Examples include seatbelts, airbags and crumple zones. These all work to reduce the amount of violent energy enacted on your body during the crash, typically by transferring it to the vehicle. Even if you can’t avoid an accident caused by another driver, you are less likely to pass away from your injuries.
That being said, even the best safety systems in the world can’t prevent all injuries. If you’re facing medical bills, lost wages and other costs, be sure you know what options you have.