If you're like most people, a vehicle's crash safety is one of the most important factors you take into consideration when doing research for buying a new car. In fact, many consumers have said that they made a purchasing decision that was based on a vehicle's crash-test safety ratings. There's a good reason for this: a safer car that's built to protect the occupants inside can not only save your life in the event of an accident, but it can also prevent you from sustaining a serious injury that could have devastating life-long consequences.The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research group that's dedicated to providing useful safety information and test results to both insurance companies and consumers to help both parties better understand how safe different makes and models of cars really are. Every year, the IIHS conducts thousands of crash tests and gives the title of "Top Safety Pick +" to only the best and safest of the lot, usually no more than a small handful. This year, just fifteen total models received this distinction.It's worth noting that these are the models that have been indicated by the IIHS as truly the best-performing vehicles when it comes to safety. Not only have they scored extremely high on crash tests, but they also scored either "advanced" or "superior" in front crash prevention, plus have a "good" headlight rating. The "Top Safety Pick" award was issued to 47 more models that are not listed here, but still offer a good amount of safety and security while driving.Here are the IIHS' "Top Safety Pick +" selections for the 2018 model year:Kia Forte - mid-size sedanKia Soul - compact box-style sedanSubaru Impreza - mid-size sedanSubaru WRX - sport sedanSubaru Legacy - full-size sedanSubaru Outback - sport sedanToyota Camry - mid-size sedanBMW 5 Series - full-size luxury sedanGenesis G80 - mid-size luxury sedanGenesis G90 - full-size luxury sedanLincoln Continental - full-size luxury sedanMercedes-Benz E Class - mid-size luxury sedanHyundai Santa Fe - compact SUVHyundai Santa Fe Sport - compact sport SUVMercedes-Benz GLC - compact luxury-SUVYou may notice a few trends on this list: Only six different manufacturers were actually named on this list, with Hyundai Motor Co. and Subaru taking home ten of the 15 different honors. Hyundai Motor Co. produces the Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis brands, which indicates an exceptional dedication to safety and security for drivers and passengers alike. It should come as little surprise to see Subaru taking home so many top honors on this year's list: the Japanese automaker has long been one of the safest auto brands on the market, showing a nearly-unmatched dedication to advancements in driving safety, and they continue to score extremely high on crash tests and even sport some of the most advanced crash-prevention technology available in a modern car.Only one American vehicle has earned the Top Safety Pick + honor, the Lincoln Continental, manufactured by Ford Motor Co. Meanwhile cars built by Japanese and Korean manufactures took home 11 of the 15 Top Safety Pick + honors. The only other nation to make the list was Germany, with three from luxury brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW.Why Pay Attention to Safety Ratings?If you're in the market to buy a new car, you may be tempted to look more at things like vehicle price and features lists than you would for safety ratings. After all, crashes are extremely rare, and the chances of being in one are extremely low on any given day, relatively speaking. However, crashes do happen, and they're starting to happen more and more often as our roads get more crowded. You never know when something might happen, and wouldn't you rather be in a safer vehicle when one does instead of one that didn't score particularly well?Car accidents can cause devastating injuries, even when in a vehicle that does have a lot of the safety designs and features that are meant to protect you and prevent major injuries. If you have been hurt in a car accident before, you know how important it is to take every possible precautionary measure and try to prevent the consequences from being any worse than they have to be. This can start by choosing a car that's designed to withstand an accident and protect you and your passengers as well as possible.Call Lauri J. Goldstein & Associates, PLLC today at 866-675-4427 to request a case evaluation from our Stuart car accident lawyers if you have been injured in an auto accident!
