Improved vehicle safety technologies are making roads safer in New York and across the U.S., according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The organization found that death rates involving late-model vehicles fell by more than a third between 2009 and 2012.
IIHS researchers calculated the death rates for 2011 car models with at least 100,000 vehicle registration years. They determined that 2011 models had 28 driver fatalities per 1 million registered vehicle years, compared to 48 fatalities for 2008 and 2009 models. A representative for the organization said that newer model cars have consistently outperformed older cars in crash tests over the years, and the death rates confirm that newer cars also perform better in the real world.
IIHS began publishing death rates in 1989. The data is gathered from the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System and only includes driver fatalities. IIHS researchers estimate that safety technology improvements are the top reason death rates declined between 1993 and 2006. Since 2006, safety improvements have continued to play a significant role, but other factors, such as a weak economy, have also helped lower the fatality risk.
Auto accidents lead to thousands of serious injuries and deaths in New York every year. Many of these crashes are caused by negligent drivers, such as distracted drivers or those driving under the influence of alcohol. In order to recover compensation for damages, victims might file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible driver in court. Such as suit may be able to bring a needed financial settlement that covers medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. If a family loses a loved one in a fatal crash, they have the right to file a wrongful death complaint against the at-fault driver.