Does The Age Of The Vehicles Involved Affect Your Car Accident Claim?

When you file an insurance claim after a car accident, the insurance claims adjusters try to get to the bottom of all the reasons for the accident.  Many collisions are the result of several contributing factors, not just one.  In some cases, the at fault driver failed to yield the right of way or did not apply the brake in time because of cell phone distractions, and the accident likely would have occurred in the same manner, regardless of the vehicles involved or the road conditions.  In other accidents, the car was in such bad shape or the road was so poorly maintained that there was little either driver could have done to prevent the collision.  Now that the average age of vehicles on the road is the highest it has been in decades, does that mean that you are at greater risk of an accident, even if your car is relatively new?  No matter how new or old your car is, a Columbia car accident lawyer can help you if you have been injured in a car accident.

Why Are There So Many More Old Cars on the Road?

In 2022, the average age of vehicles on the road was 12.5 years, the oldest it has been since the early 2000s.  There are several reasons for this.  One is that cars built in the past 20 years are more durable, both in terms of their engines and their bodies, than previous generations of automobiles.  Today, it is common for mechanics to see drivers bringing in their cars for routine inspections when these cars have 250,000 miles or more on the odometer.

The more obvious reason is that many drivers who would like to trade in their old clunkers for something newer simply cannot afford to.  Computer ship shortages linger after an interruption in production during the pandemic; this has contributed to an increase in vehicle prices, with new cars costing an average of $48,000.  Used cars, when you can find them, are not cheap either.  Meanwhile, the federal government has raised interest rates several times in the past several years, causing the interest that consumers pay on auto loans to increase.  Because of this, the average monthly payment on a car loan is $729, which is more than most people can afford.

Are Old Vehicles Always Less Safe Than New Ones?

The age of the car does not, by itself, play a role in the apportioning of fault for the accident.  If your geriatric vehicle has passed inspection, then its age will not cause any problems with your collision claim.  If one of the drivers has ignored a safety recall notice and the car has a defective part, though, this could be an issue.

Let Us Help You Today

The personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you if you were involved in a car accident when your car was no spring chicken.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

Source:

courant.com/2023/05/15/fixing-instead-of-replacing-average-age-of-vehicles-on-us-roads-hits-a-record-high/