Whether you’re buying used or brand new, purchasing a car can be an exciting time. Although, with so many makes and models to choose from, car shopping can often get overwhelming. In the midst of your confusion and stress about car buying, a car salesman swoops in and offers you an amazing deal. You don’t know much about the car, but they’ve “talked to their manager” about giving you a lower price, and now the price is right where you want it.
Convenient, right?
Before you sign on the dotted line, it is important to know which makes and models have a pattern of driver/passenger fatality in a collision, especially in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Research Triangle area. The car’s aesthetic and the latest electronics aren’t worth much if the car itself can’t save your and your passengers’ lives.
The Triangle’s Deadliest Vehicles
According to a study conducted by iSeeCars, an independent automotive research firm, occupant fatalities from collisions occurs at a higher rate in some vehicles than others. In the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle, the top 5 cars with the highest occupant fatality rates are as follows:
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- Nissan Versa
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- Hyundai Accent
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- Jeep Wrangler
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- Ford Fiesta
- Ford Mustang
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A majority of the cars that made the list are smaller cars. The CEO of iSeeCars inferred from the results that even with advancements in technology and safety, subcompact and sports cars still lack sufficient safety features. Additionally, subcompact cars perform at a below-average rate in crash safety tests. The only SUV that made the list, the Jeep Wrangler, is notorious for being an unsafe car. The Ford Mustang, a sports car, also made the list of deadliest cars.
In North Carolina, the Ford Mustang has the highest occupant fatality rate.
The Deadliest Cars in America
Across the U.S., the cars with the highest fatality rates per billion vehicle miles are:
The average fatality rate per billion vehicle miles was 2.6, and in comparing just metropolitan areas around the U.S., the Chevrolet Spark has the highest fatality rate amongst all makes and models included in the study.
Methodology Behind the Vehicle Fatality Study
According to iSeeCars, in order for them to get to the numbers behind the deadliest cars in America, they used the following method of research and analysis:
“The results above came from a study of data from the US Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System as well as iSeeCars unique data. Only cars from 2013–2017 model years in crashes that resulted in occupant fatalities between 2012–2017 were included in the analysis. To adjust for exposure, the number of cars involved in a fatal crash were normalized by the total number of vehicle miles driven, which was estimated from iSeeCars’ data of over 25 million used car sales from model years 2013-2017 sold in 2013-2017. Heavy-duty trucks and vans, models not in production as of the 2019 model year or since the 2013/2014 model year, low-volume models, and models with fewer than 20 crashes with occupant fatalities were removed from further analysis.”
Check out the full report from iSeeCars.
3 Quick Tips Before Buying a Car
Research
When looking to buy a car, whether new or used, it’s imperative to thoroughly conduct research. One simple Google search will return websites and funded research, like iSeeCars, the NHTSA’s recalls page, Consumer Reports, and the Kelley Blue Book – among many, many others – which should help guide you to the best choice. Additionally, reading consumer reviews can make all the difference. Other consumers have valuable, honest information that car salesmen likely will not tell you.
Test Drive
You should always test drive the car. Every car drives and handles differently. It is important that you purchase a car that you feel comfortable operating. Pay special attention to things such as the car’s blind spots that may hinder your driving ability.
Second Opinion
When buying a used car, it is important to take the car to a trusted mechanic. A mechanic will be able to look in closer detail at the car to make sure that nothing is out of place. Taking this extra precaution may save you from buying an unsafe car that could possibly result in an accident.
How the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin Can Help
A collision can change your life in the blink of an eye. If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision, we can help take the stress and weight off your shoulders. Contact us or call the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin’s 24/7 team at 1-866-900-7078.
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