New Jersey drivers with collision avoidance systems in their vehicles may be less likely to have an accident than those who do not. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a study using data from 2015 that looked at accidents involving blind spots and moving into other lanes. After examining 5,000 accidents, it found that those involving head-on crashes or sideswipes were lower by 11 percent for vehicles with the warning system. Furthermore, the same type of injury accidents were lower by 21 percent.
Two other studies that looked at 2015 data found accidents cut in half for vehicles that had warnings about lane departures. Unfortunately, the inclusion of collision avoidance systems is still not standard. Only around 9 percent of vehicles for sale have blind spot alert systems while in 2017 vehicles, lane departure warning systems are standard for 6 percent. The IIHS estimated that in 2015, there would have been 55,000 fewer traffic injuries if all vehicles had this technology.
There are other obstacles to widespread use of the systems. Expense is one issue. Some drivers also turn the systems off, possibly because some beep warnings in a way that motorists find annoying.
The costs of these accidents can be high in terms of medical expensesand lost wages for people who cannot return to work while they are recovering. For those victims, compensation from the insurance company of the driver responsible for the accident may be critical. If the amount offered is insufficient, they may want to have an attorney’s help in filing a lawsuit against the at-fault motorist.
