I'm an Insurance Adjuster: These Car Safety Considerations Affect Auto Buys
Most car shoppers consider safety before purchasing a vehicle, but insurance adjusters see something most consumers don’t. While shoppers can compare crash-test ratings, safety features and reviews, adjusters have experience handling accident claims that show how vehicles perform in real life.
“Adjusters simply know how the safety features of a vehicle affect the severity of personal injury claims and the likelihood of avoiding an accident,” Melanie Musson, auto industry expert with AutoInsurance.org, wrote in an email.
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Insurance adjusters don’t necessarily have insider secrets, but they do have a unique perspective on which models and safety features do a better job of protecting occupants and your wallet.
Insurance Adjusters Evaluate Vehicles Differently Than Most Buyers
According to Luke Oswald, automotive specialist at Wheels Away, a U.S. car-buying service, buyers will judge a car based on its looks, price and fuel economy, whereas insurance adjusters go by what happens when things go wrong with the car.
“Adjusters can view the statistics that most buyers will never even think about or look at,” Oswald said. “For example, how often a particular car model is involved in crashes each year, how frequently that car model is stolen and how well it holds up in a collision based on its crash-test rating.”
Less Risk Typically Means Lower Insurance Premiums
“Vehicles with features that statistically reduce crash risk typically have lower insurance premiums,” Musson said. “And the vehicles that protect passengers best will usually have lower rates.”
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), overall insurance losses are calculated by multiplying claim severity by claim frequency. This means that vehicles involved in fewer crashes or that better protect occupants often result in lower insurance losses and lower premiums
A Bigger, Tougher-Looking Vehicle Isn't Always Safer
Bigger vehicles don’t necessarily offer the most protection.
“There is some truth to the idea that a vehicle's size matters when it collides with another vehicle, but many other factors affect safety,” Musson said. “Bigger doesn’t mean better.”
That also applies to “tough” vehicles.
“No matter how often you see it, it’s absolutely incredible when a vehicle that, from a distance, looks like no one could have survived still has an open space around where occupants sit,” Musson said. “A Toyota Camry doesn’t look like a beefy vehicle, but it’s incredibly tough where it matters.”
Don't Judge a Vehicle by Crash-Test Ratings Alone
Don’t rely on crash-test ratings alone. According to Oswald, a five-star rating means nothing if the car in front of you has been in a serious accident or has faulty safety equipment.
“Before buying a used car, always pull a vehicle history report and pay for an independent inspection prior to purchasing,” he said. “It's a small cost that can reveal crash history, open recalls or safety defects the seller won't mention.”
It’s Not About Damage, But Rather How Well It Protected the Occupants
Triumph Curiel, founder and Managing Partner of Triumph Law Group and auto finance and vehicle insurance expert, says shoppers shouldn’t assume a vehicle performed poorly because it sustained extensive damage in a crash. Modern cars have crumple zones that absorb energy during a crash. This helps protect passengers even if the front end appears heavily damaged.
“Through years of processing motor vehicle accident and insurance claim cases, I've learned that just because visible damage is extensive, it doesn't mean the car did not serve its function in protecting its occupants,” he said.
The Safest Vehicle Still Depends on the Driver
Even the safest vehicles can’t eliminate every risk on the road. Dale Williams, president and chief operating officer of EInsurance.com, says driver behavior is one of the biggest factors in preventing crashes.
“You could have the safest car in the world with the latest tech and still get into several accidents if you aren’t locked in while driving,” Williams said. “So, no distractions while driving or even driving while more tired than you think you are.”
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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