Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers: Automatic Brakes Reduce Rear-End Collisions

Vehicles equipped with front crash prevention have significantly lower incidents of rear-end collisions, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The study was based on police-reported crash data between 2010 and 2014. Researchers looked at 7,490 rear-end crashes involving Acura, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru and Volvo vehicles. All of the models offered optional front crash prevention. The crash rates of vehicles equipped with the technology were compared against the same models without the safety features.

Researchers looked at two types of collision avoidance technologies and compared their effectiveness when offered alone and in combination with one another. Automatic braking, which brings the vehicle to a stop if it senses an imminent collision, was shown to reduce rear-end collisions by 40%. Front collision warning systems, which alerts the driver but does not brake, lowered the risk of a rear-end collision by 23%.

In addition to crash prevention, the technology can also help to lower the number and severity of injuries by reducing the impact speed of rear-end crashes. Most notably, vehicles equipped with both features were shown to reduce the number of rear-end crashes involving injuries by 42%. However, forward collision warning systems alone had little effect in reducing rear-end crash injury rates.

Rear-end crashes are the most frequently reported type of collision, accounting for approximately 29% of all crashes and a substantial number of injuries and fatalities each year. The authors of this study contend that forward collision warnings combined with automatic braking systems could have prevented approximately 700,000 wrecks in 2013 alone. Safety advocates are hopeful that the results of the study will push more automakers to make automatic braking systems a standard feature on all new cars. The technology has the support of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Last year, the agency announced plans to update its 5-Star Rating System to include automatic emergency braking as a recommended safety technology beginning with model year 2018.

Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Obtain Compensation for Those Injured in Rear-End Collisions

If you have been seriously injured in a rear-end crash, our Baltimore accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton can help you get the compensation you deserve. We work with leading accident investigators to determine the true cause of the wreck. If the driver that hit you was texting behind the wheel, driving aggressively or driving under the influence, we will find out and we will hold them accountable. Contact us online or call 800-547-4LAW (4529) today to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced and highly skilled Maryland car accident lawyers. In case of emergency, someone is available to take your call 24 hours a day.

Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent people injured in rear-end collisions throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood and Elkridge.