Study: How Can Car Color Impact Your Accident Risk?
Is the color of your car increasing your likelihood of getting into an accident every time you set out on the road? As reported by AS USA, researchers noticed certain patterns collected from crash data ranging from 1987 to 2004:
- Likely due to issues like nighttime visibility, black cars stood out as more likely to get into collisions than cars of other colors.
- Grey cars carried a 11% higher accident risk when compared to white vehicles.
- Silver cars carried a 10% higher accident risk when compared to white vehicles.
- Blue and red cars carried a 7% higher accident accident risk when compared to white vehicles.
- White, orange, yellow, and gold were the safest cars to drive.
There may be additional factors to consider when it comes to car colors in relation to road safety. According to the University of Melbourne, certain colors such as reds and yellows may appear closer to the human eye than blues and greens do, meaning two cars of the same make and model could be painted in different colors, and as a result, have measurably different visibility to others on the road. This particular study also observed that darker cars may be harder for the human eye to recognize, appearing smaller and further away than cars on the road that are a brighter color.
Other Leading Factors in Car Crashes
While color may be a factor in a car collision, it is not the only one to consider when looking out for your own safety on the road. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, other common causes of an accident include:
- Driving at a speed that endangers both yourself and others
- Not being focused on your surroundings while driving
- Going the wrong way with your vehicle
- Turning from a lane not designated for turning
- Not signaling when making a turn
- Not giving the right-of-way to drivers who are legally entitled to it
- Not heeding local traffic signs and signals
- Using a mobile device while driving
Other leading factors in California car accidents include location of the accident (such as an intersection or other roadway), alcohol and drugs, lack of seatbelt use, the age of the drivers, and more. Regardless of your car’s color, you can practice safety by avoiding the type of behavior behind the wheel that could lead to accident. You can also make sure that your car is regularly maintained so that it is fit for navigating the road.
Part of this maintenance includes ensuring that all types of lights on your car are working properly so that you are visible to other drivers. This includes:
- Headlights
- Brake lights
- Signal lights
- Hazard lights
- Lights for daytime driving
Contact an Attorney After Your Car Accident
Drivers have a duty of care to navigate the road in a safe manner, in all conditions, and at all hours of the day. Negligence may be a factor in an accident when drivers fail to properly use headlights, or when they exhibit other behavior on the road that may have led to your car accident.
The Santa Ana car accident attorneys at HN Injury Lawyers can evaluate the circumstances that led to your accident during a free consultation. From there, we can determine how to move forward with pursuing all forms of compensation that you could be entitled to for any injuries you may have experienced.
You could be awarded current and future medical expenses, lost wages for as long as your injuries prevent you from returning to work, compensation for pain and suffering, and possibly more. As we work on your behalf during a difficult recovery time, we won’t charge you unless we win your case. Contact us today at (657) 333-5726.
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