No safety feature in a vehicle is perfect, nor can one feature eliminate all chances of harm should an accident occur in Illinois or elsewhere. Regardless, the increased inclusion of advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, adds layers of protection that did not exist in previous generations. Enhanced engineering and technological developments make it easier and more cost-effective for manufacturers to add these components to vehicles. ADAS items even become selling points in marketing materials.
LexisNexis compiled information related to insurance claims, and the figures reflect encouraging trends. Bodily injury claims display a 27% reduction while property damage claims are down by about 19% in vehicles with ADAS. Keep in mind that many older cars on the road do not have modern ADAS features; as the years progress and older vehicles come off the road, these figures could conceivably continue to improve.
ADAS features help drivers in many ways. Adaptive cross control adjusts a vehicle’s speed to maintain a safer distance from cars ahead of it. Blind spot detection offers a sensor that provides warnings about vehicles located on the side and in the rear. There are several other helpful features, such as cross-traffic alert, collision warnings, automatic emergency braking and more. However, these features may be less effective if drivers turn them off or, worse, become distracted because they over-estimate the capabilities of ADAS.
If driver negligence contributes to an accident, an attorney may file a lawsuit to seek compensation for damage to a car, medical bills and other losses. The attorney may enter into negotiations with the insurance company for a client-approved settlement figure. If ADAS systems failed to work properly due to a defect, a personal injury lawyer might sue the manufacturer. The attorney may deal with the company’s insurance company on behalf of the injured victim in such cases.