As technology advances, cars get safer. This is a fact and a happy one at that. However, with the improved protection, many have complained about a loss of cool factor. Unfortunately, certain sacrifices need to be made in the name of safety. Even with all of the advancements in safety, there is still a difference in the level of protection provided by your average sedan and that of a cool car. In order to get the sleek look that people desire from a modern muscle cars, there are sacrifices made to the safety of drivers and passengers inside. Modern muscle cars continue to score lower on safety tests than average.
However, the good news for muscle car enthusiasts is that even with some subpar crash test ratings, modern muscle cars still rate better than any car from fifty years ago.
Improved Safety Over Time
Another point of good news for muscle car fans is that with how much car safety has improved in the last 25 years, those who are looking to get new muscle cars in the future can expect that safety will continue to get better. Since 1994 the number of accident-related deaths per 100,000 vehicles has dropped by nearly 50%.
Whether the next 25 years can provide as dramatic of a dropoff or not is yet to be determined. However, we can feel pretty confident that whatever the rate of decline may be, fatal accident numbers will continue to drop.
What Should You Do if Injured in a Car Crash
When out for a drive in your Mustang and struck by another vehicle, there are several steps you will need to take to ensure that you are safe, both bodily and financially. Anytime you are involved in a car accident of any type, you should follow these steps:
- Pull your vehicle to the side of the road
- Check if anyone needs assistance
- Call the police
- Gather information
- Seek medical attention
- Contact your insurance
- Contact a car accident lawyer
Pull Your Vehicle to the Side of the Road
After any accident, you should stop your vehicle, and if able to do so, pull over to the side of the road so that you are out of the way of other traffic, and both you and other drivers are safe.
Check if Anyone Needs Assistance
First, you should check yourself over. Shock may be high enough that you don’t initially notice a serious injury. After checking on yourself, check on any passengers in your vehicle to make sure they are okay. Then, if you are able to do so, proceed to check on anyone else involved in the accident. If anyone needs assistance, call 911 and follow any instructions that you receive from the operator.
Call the Police
If you have already called 911 to report on an injured party, then the police will be on their way. If nobody has suffered an injury, however, you will need to call the non-emergency number for local police. An officer will need to come to the scene of the accident and write up a report.
Gather Information
If you don’t have injuries that prevent it, you should gather as much information from the accident scene as possible. Exchange information with any other party involved in the accident, as well as getting contact information for any witnesses. Record license plate numbers, and take note of any conditions that may have played a part in the accident, such as poor weather conditions or missing traffic signs.
Take plenty of pictures of the scene.
Seek Medical Attention
If you were seriously injured then this supersedes previous steps in the process. However, if your injuries do not seem serious they should be addressed at this point. Even if you feel that you are uninjured or that your injuries were only mild, you should still get checked over by a professional. Some injuries are hard to recognize immediately. Without getting checked out, you may not realize that you have been harmed until days later.
This delay not only presents a risk to your health as an untreated injury can grow worse, but it also potentially damages you from a legal standpoint. When an injury is not recorded until days after the accident, you may face difficulty seeking compensation. An insurance agent or lawyer will question whether the injury really occurred as the result of the accident or if it is unrelated.
Contact Your Insurance
Whether you are filing a claim with your insurance company or with the insurance of another driver, you will need to let your insurance know about the accident. Do not give a statement or any unnecessary details. If your company asks for a statement, politely decline. When an accident might potentially cost your insurance company money, they can very quickly reveal their true purpose, which is not to protect you but to make and keep the money.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
A competent car accident lawyer can talk over all of your options with you and advise you on how best to proceed. They can also take the lead when you file a claim with the auto insurance company of the at-fault party. They will deal with all negotiations with them as they work to get you a fair settlement. Trying to fight insurance on your own is never a good idea, as they have a lot of experience avoiding paying out fair settlements.