The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has been providing side crash test results on vehicles since 2003. However, their previous method of testing has been found to no longer help consumers determine the benefits of one vehicle over another. Their new, updated testing is designed to change this. Keep reading for the facts and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you require the help of a personal injury attorney.
The Issue with the Current Rating System
An interesting issue has come up. The IIHS introduced crash tests for side crash protection in 2003. This program was extremely successful – in fact it was so successful that the program as is no longer helps distinguish between vehicles. Why? Because nearly all vehicles meet the higher test rating as they are currently written.
Potential Changes to the Rating System
IIHS researchers and engineers have been working together to find the best way to change and update the test. They have considered trying new, higher speed impacts and heavier, more realistic movable barriers that would represent more modern vehicles. They are also looking at what aspects of the current testing are still working well. For example, the same dummies are likely to be used in updated tests.
How Do Rating Criteria Stand Up to Real-World Outcomes?
One of the most important things to look at when changes are made to the current system is whether or not the side testing measures the correct things. This is why IIHS researchers completed another study that looked at real-world accidents. They studied how well each of the test measurements they use worked with the ratings that correlated with death risks.
They found various areas in which the testing stood up wall and others where it did not. The information from this study, and others like it, are helping researchers and policy makers to determine the right way to move forward to create the best possible testing procedures.
Have You Been Involved in a Side Crash Accident?
If you have been injured in a side crash accident or have lost a loved one in this type of accident, we invite you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will consider your case, the evidence, and the facts of the matter. If you have a case, and we decide to take it, we will do so on a contingency basis. This means that you will not owe us a penny for your legal fees until we win your case.
What happens if we do not win your case? You will not owe us anything for our legal fees. It is a simple process and there is no risk for you. We strongly recommend that you contact us today to learn more.
