Most Florida drivers have a dream car, something they would spring for given the opportunity and an influx of cash. However, most people’s dream cars are not the most effective vehicle to keep them safe, as the specific make and model of the car you drive can change the outcome of a car accident. But that raises a good question: does staying safe actually make the overall value of a personal injury lawsuit less? No one wants to get injured, but what happens when safety features protect drivers from dangerous, negligent drivers? Do they still have the right to receive compensation?
How Vehicle Type Affects Safety in Florida Accidents
Size and Weight: As a general rule, larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks provide more protection than smaller cars, both due to their structural integrity and higher elevation. With increased mass, the collision’s impact is better absorbed, thereby reducing the force exerted on occupants.
Smaller cars, on the other hand, often bear the brunt of the damage in crashes involving larger vehicles, with more severe crumpling and structural damage. Size and weight aren’t everything, as usually, smaller cars are designed to deform in certain ways to minimize harm to occupants. However, should two cars collide, you want to be inside the larger vehicle, either for safety or vehicle damage reasons.
Safety Features of the Car: Cars with newer airbags, anti-lock brakes, and collision avoidance systems have made a huge difference in reducing injury risks. Vehicles equipped with these modern safety features are more likely to protect passengers from severe harm, but this is partially accomplished through prevention, not necessarily protection during an accident. If you’re already at the point of enduring an accident in a newer car, your safety is at risk, just like older cars. Lower-speed impacts or crashes that avoid a head-on collision will generally result in less severe injuries, but you can’t rely on newer safety features to do all the heavy lifting.
How Car Type Impacts Florida Personal Injury Claims
The safety of occupants after Florida car crashes is directly tied to insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits, meaning newer, safer, larger cars will lead to fewer injuries and overall damages. Insurance companies typically adjust compensation based on the actual and perceived severity of injuries. This means that if a safer car results in less injury, the insurer may push for a smaller settlement and insurance payout, even if ongoing medical care is required.
The safety of vehicles can also have an unexpected effect on how accidents are perceived. If a car sustains substantial visible damage, it often strengthens the perception that its occupants were also seriously injured. If insurance negotiations get to the point where court litigation is possible, this apparent vehicle damage, in conjunction with medical needs, may be risky enough to convince insurers to settle. Conversely, a lack of visible damage may give insurers leverage to argue against the severity of injuries claimed. Experienced personal injury attorneys work hard to counter these claims or use them to your advantage, emphasizing hard evidence of physical injuries through medical records and doctor testimony.
At the end of the day, it’s always better to walk away from an accident without injuries than drive an old car with minimal safety features. Aside from punitive damages, compensation resulting from personal injury cases is meant to make the injured party whole. Greater injuries may result in greater compensation, but it comes at the risk of your health and safety.
Regardless of current safety features, thousands of Florida car accidents occur every day, with many injured parties and negligent drivers. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact Probinsky & Cole today. Our personal injury attorneys will help ensure that the type of car you drive does not negatively impact your compensation or ability to fight for justice.
