The Seven Best Car Accident Safety Features The earliest cars had few safety features. In fact, when cars began to roll off the assembly lines in the early 20th century, only high-end models had doors. Doors, one of the most basic safety features, did not become standard on cars until the 1920s.

Now, car companies compete to bring us the most up-to-date safety features. Every car manufacturer wants to score a five-star government safety rating or a “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway safety.

How do modern cars keep us safe?

  • Safety cage: The safety cage refers to the strong beams that strengthen the cabin of a vehicle. They support the vehicle’s structure and prevent it from collapsing in a Milwaukee rollover accident.
  • Crumple zones: A moving vehicle has kinetic energy. When the vehicle suddenly stops, that energy must be released. It is the transfer of energy from the car to its surroundings that causes much of the damage and injury in a Wisconsin car crash. Crumple zones are specially designed to absorb the energy of a car accident before it reaches the occupants of the car. Most vehicles have front crumple zones and some have side crumple zones.
  • Seat belts:  When you are driving down I-94, your car isn’t the only thing moving at 55 miles per hour. Your body is also moving at that speed. What happens to your body when you crash on I-94? If you are wearing your seat belt, you’ll stop when the car stops. If you aren’t wearing a seat belt during impact, your body will keep moving at the same speed until it is stopped by another object.
  • Airbags: An airbag is similar to a seat belt in that its job in a Wisconsin traffic collision is to keep your body from crashing into the front of your vehicle. It does this by providing the equivalent of a big pillow to slow you down.
  • Anti-lock braking system (ABS):  ABS brakes prevent a driver from losing control of his car when the car skids by changing the amount of pressure on the brake to prevent the wheel from locking up.
  • Traction control: Traction control senses when a tire loses traction. It slows the wheel by automatically adjusting the brake to prevent skidding. It is especially useful in wet, icy, or snowy weather conditions.
  • Rear sensors: Rear sensors signal the driver when a person or object is in their path while the vehicle is backing up. Rear sensors don't protect the driver, but they do prevent back-up accidents. More than 50 children a year are killed in back up accidents.

Car safety features can help you be a safer driver and protect you if you ever are in a car accident. But they can’t prevent all accidents. If the actions of a reckless or distracted driver in Wisconsin have caused you harm, the Milwaukee accident lawyers at Hupy and Abraham are here to help. Request a FREE copy of our book, The Ultimate Guide For Automobile Accident Victims, by contacting our office at 800-800-5678 or starting a live chat anytime at Hupy.com. We would also like to offer you a free conference with one of our attorneys, so we can show you how we would get you the compensation you deserve.

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.