The Most Unsafe Vehicles on The Road

Thanks to advancements in safety technology, vehicles sold in New Jersey and across the United States are safer than ever before. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 36,560 people were killed in U.S. traffic accidents in 2018, which is approximately 10,000 fewer fatalities than occurred 30 years ago.

Studies show that technology advancements such as anti-lock brakes, collision avoidance systems, adaptive headlights and improved seat belt designs have helped make vehicles safer. However, the NHTSA reports that some new vehicles protect drivers and passengers better than others. Since 2011, researchers for the agency have put all new cars and trucks through a series of crash tests and rated their performance on a scale of one to five stars.

The Wall Street Journal compiled a list of the vehicles that have received the lowest safety scores by the NHTSA, meaning they received a rating of two or three stars on some of the crash tests. The vehicles on the list include SUVs and pickup trucks like the 2012-2015 GMC Sierra 2500, 2012-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 2014-2015 Chevrolet Captiva, 2014 Toyota Tundra, 2013 Jeep Compass, 2013 Ford Transit Connect, 2012 Ram 2500, 2011-2012 Ram 1500, 2012 Jeep Liberty, 2011 Ram 1500 Crew and 2011 Mercury Mariner. The list also includes cars such as the 2012 Lexus ES350, 2012 Fiat 500, 2012 Dodge Caliber, 2012 Acura TL, 2011 Toyota Corolla, 2011 Toyota Camry, 2011 Honda Civic and 2011 Buick Lucerne.

New Jersey residents who are injured in an auto accident caused by another driver might have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property loss, emotional distress and more. Injured victims could learn more about their legal options by contacting an attorney who handles car accident claims.