Several studies by different agencies indicate that advanced safety features in motor vehicles may actually reduce the number of crashes on roads in Georgia and across the country. According to research conducted by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, for example, vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems had a bodily injury claim frequency 27% lower than others and a property damage frequency 19% lower than others.
The category of advanced safety systems includes features like blind spot detection, automatic emergency braking, cross-traffic alerts, forward collision warnings, rear collision warnings, lane departure warnings and road sign recognition. Adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection systems also qualify as advanced safety systems.
A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that vehicles equipped with blind spot monitoring systems have a crash involvement rate 14% lower than those without the systems. Extrapolating the results of that study suggests that equipping all motor vehicles nationwide with blind spot monitoring systems could have prevented 50,000 accidents and 16,000 accident injuries during the year 2015 alone.
A research professional for Carnegie Melon University conducted an analysis as well and said that incorporating a combination of crash avoidance technologies could lower crash frequencies by around 3.5%. This reduction could save as much as $264 billion per year. The systems still have a number of flaws, though, and the presence of crash prevention technologies can potentially complicate driving for individuals who are not used to them.
People who are injured in car accidents due to technology installed in a vehicle or for other reasons might be entitled to compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses or other damages. An attorney with experience in personal injury law may be able to help by gathering evidence to build a case for trial, conducting witness interviews, deposing experts or negotiating settlement with at-fault parties and their insurers.
