The question, "is the vehicle I'm thinking of buying safe?" is on the minds of most new car purchasers.
AutoInsurance.org has just crunched vehicle accident data and released their 2021 list of which automakers have the highest number of fatal crashes in the U.S.
Let's start with some basic facts…
- Approximately 37,000 Americans die in car accidents every year, and while that number is down from prior decades, it's still a staggering number.
- There are roughly six million car accidents in the U.S. annually – or approximately 16,000 accidents a day.
Now let's look at crash data by the manufacturer.
One way to look at the data is by examining the raw data – without weighting for vehicle sales volume (how many of each manufacturer's vehicles are on the road).
When one looks at the information that way, here is what AutoInsurance.org discovered. This list shows the manufacturers by rank – from worst fatal crash record to best.
- Ford – WORST
- Chevrolet
- Toyota
- Honda
- Dodge
- Nissan
- GMC
- Jeep
- Hyundai
- Kia – BEST
How about if we weigh the data to reflect the volume of each manufacturer's vehicles on the road? Here again, we show worst to best:
- Dodge – WORST (and by a wide margin)
- Chevrolet
- Ford
- GMC
- Honda
- Toyota
- Nissan
- Hyundai
- Jeep
What's this all mean?
Not all vehicles are made the same or are equally safe to drive. Do your homework before you buy.
But also remember - driver skill and habits matter as much as anything – so drive defensively and with great care. After all, the car or truck you drive is both heavy and powerful – capable of propelling you at high speeds. Whether you get to your destination safely is mainly in your hands.
If you or a loved one are ever in a car accident in Connecticut, know that the Connecticut car accident lawyers at RisCassi & Davis have been assisting people like you who've been injured in these accidents for over 60 years. And we have received both state and national recognition for our work in this area. If you are ever injured in an accident of any kind and would like a free consultation with one of our Connecticut injury lawyers, please contact us. There is no obligation.