There are a significant number of persons in the United States who like to drive what are commonly called “muscle cars.” These are cars with high horsepower which are capable of high speeds and fast acceleration. Examples of cars often referred to as “muscle cars” include the Dodge Charger, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, Dodge Challenger and the Camaro. Unfortunately, some muscle cars have been identified with an increase in car accident wrongful deaths.
A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that smaller cars that have more powerful engines can be deadly for not just motorists and passengers, but also for drivers of other cars. Traditionally, safety experts have believed that larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks are more dangerous for drivers and passengers of other vehicles in the event of an accident. However, the dangers may be even more serious in the case of smaller muscle cars like the Ford Mustang or other similar vehicles.
Muscle cars are basically smaller American cars that have increased horsepower. These are boxy cars that usually have 2 doors and a powerful engine. These cars are typically marketed to a certain type of consumer, and the study believes that the way in which these cars are marketed also contributes to the higher death rates associated with these vehicles.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in a comparison with 2020 model cars, 6 out of 21 cars with the highest driver death rates were so – called muscle cars, including the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger. While larger cars are believed to be more dangerous to other drivers on the road, some of these muscle cars actually fly in the face of that logic. Three of the Dodge cars that were in the study, for example, were found to be dangerous for other motorists involved in accidents, possibly because of the aggressive manner in which these cars are often operated.
Several of these muscle cars include models that were used several decades ago for drag racing. There is a certain image that is associated with these cars, and that often includes high acceleration and great speeds. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety researchers say that the marketing material for many of these cars includes words like “ground – shaking power,” and “extreme track performance.” Some of the ads call these vehicles “adrenaline chasers.” All of these are terms that seem to be designed to encourage possible aggressive use of these vehicles.
The researchers believe that in these cases, it is not just the high horsepower of the powerful engine that is a factor in these car accidents, but also the marketing of these cars that is also contributing to auto accidents involving these vehicles and the deaths resulting from their use.
The Atlanta auto accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your options for a legal claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical costs, lost income and other forms of damages. Call us today and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.