While it may seem silly to say, the color of the car that you drive may put you at a statistically higher risk of being involved in a car accident, and it’s not just because of chance or poor luck. Here’s a look into car colors and how they may affect the risk of being involved in a collision, as well as what to do if you’ve been in a crash in Illinois–
Association Between Car Color and Accident Risk
When you buy a car, the color that you choose probably isn’t based on much more than preference. In fact, color may not be something that you consider at all if the vehicle has other features that you like and if the price is right.
But car color can have an effect on accident risk, according to some data sources. For example, according to MoneySuperMarket, a review of the research shows that at dawn and dusk when lighting is poor, black vehicles are 47 percent more likely to be involved in collisions than are white vehicles. Directautoinsurance.org also holds that black vehicles are more likely to be involved in collisions, holding that black vehicles are 50 percent more likely to be involved in a crash.
The reason is simply that black vehicles are more difficult to see than are white ones. The lighter or the flashier the color, the safer that a driver may be, simply because the vehicle will be easier for other motorists to spot, especially when visibility is poor.
It’s Not Just Car Color – It’s Negligence
However, it would be foolish to claim that a white vehicle won’t ever be involved in a crash, or that the safest driver of a black vehicle is doomed no matter what; instead, it’s important to remember that while vehicle color may have some effect on crash likelihood, the real factor is negligence. When drivers speed, drive drunk, use a cellphone behind the wheel, or otherwise breach safety rules and traffic laws, a crash is much more likely.
How to Hold a Negligent Driver Liable for Your Harm and What to Do After a Crash
If you’ve been involved in a crash, don’t blame the color of your car – blame the other driver. You can hold another driver liable for damages by filing a claim directly against the driver or their insurance carrier.
In order to improve your chances of recovering the compensation award that you deserve, you should:
- file a police report
- inform your insurance company of the accident promptly
- seek medical care
- collect as much evidence as possible
- call a lawyer who can start investigating your claim and building your case
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you’ve been in a car accident in our state, our Rockford auto accident lawyers can help you. Please reach out to us directly today at 877-965-5777 to schedule your free case consultation and learn more about your options and how we can help. We are here to represent you!
