Approximately 36,000 car accidents occur every day in the United States, and around 120 are fatal accidents. Advancements in safety technology mean that newer cars are often equipped with features that can prevent collisions, warn drivers of danger, and keep vehicle occupants safer when crashes occur. However, vehicle safety is not the same in every car, truck, SUV, and minivan. Some vehicles are more dangerous than others, whether due to poor safety ratings or typical driver behavior. For example, sports cars are involved in car accidents at a disproportionately high rate.

New Yorkers who have been injured by a reckless or negligent driver need qualified legal representation to help them get the compensation they deserve. Mark E. Seitelman Law Offices has been helping injured people in New York City navigate accident claims and lawsuits since 1990.

How is Vehicle Safety Determined?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rate vehicle safety. Each uses a different scoring system, but crash testing is a major part of the metrics.

NHTSA Safety Ratings

The NHTSA tests use a star system to rank vehicles from one star, which is the least safe, to five stars, which is the safest. It scores a rollover resistance test, a frontal crash test, a side barrier crash test, and a side pole crash test.

IIHS Safety Ratings

The IIHS tests safety features, like headlight effectiveness and front crash prevention. It also tests specific crash scenarios, including small front overlap collisions. Its system uses a ranking system for each feature and test that begins with the best rating of good to the worst rating of poor.

Other Vehicle Safety Features

There are many more safety features available that neither the NHTSA nor IIHS considers in their testing. It’s a good idea to have as many features as possible on your vehicle to decrease the chances of being in a collision. Some other safety technologies that may be available include:

  • Lane assist or lane departure warning
  • Blindspot monitoring
  • Parking assist
  • Backup cameras
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Forward collision warning
  • Automatic emergency braking

The Safest Vehicles of 2024

Each year, the IIHS creates a list of top safety picks based on the results of their tests. The top safety picks for 2024 chosen by IIHS include:

  • Acura Integra
  • Honda Civic
  • Mazda 3
  • Honda Accord
  • Subaru Outback
  • Toyota Camry
  • Honda HR-V
  • Hyundai Tucson
  • Honda Pilot
  • Ford Explorer
  • Kia Telluride
  • Subaru Ascent
  • Acura MDX
  • Volvo XC90
  • Rivian R1S
  • Toyota Tundra

20 Most Dangerous Cars in 2024

What classifies a vehicle as dangerous? In addition to the NHTSA and IIHS rating systems, various other rankings may consider crash test results, accident death and injury rates, or the number of serious recalls. Here’s a look at some of the ratings and data that reflect how safe a vehicle is on the road.

Ranking Dangerous Cars by Driver Death Rate

The IIHS reports that the following cars have the highest driver death rates, represented as the number of deaths per million registered vehicle years:

  • Toyota Camry Hybrid
  • Ford Fusion Hybrid
  • Honda Accord Hybrid
  • Honda Accord
  • Volkswagen Jetta
  • Toyota Camry
  • Ford Fusion
  • Kia Optima
  • Chevrolet Malibu
  • Nissan Altima

An analysis of NHTSA traffic fatality data for 2018-2022 models showed that the 20 most dangerous cars are:

  • Hyundai Venue
  • Chevrolet Corvette
  • Mitsubishi Mirage
  • Porsche 911
  • Honda CR-V Hybrid
  • Tesla Model Y
  • Mitsubishi Mirage G4
  • Buick Encore GX
  • Kia Forte
  • Buick Envision
  • Kia Soul
  • Toyota Corolla Hybrid
  • Chevrolet Camaro
  • Nissan Versa
  • Kia K5
  • Kia Seltos
  • Ford Bronco
  • Ford Bronco Sport
  • Dodge Charger
  • Toyota Prius

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in NYC

One thing is clear based on these safety and accident rankings – staying safe on the road requires responsible, attentive driving. Even the safest car cannot counteract irresponsible driving. If you’ve been injured by a negligent or reckless driver in New York City, contact Mark E. Seitelman Law Offices to schedule a free consultation.