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Which color car gets in the most accidents?

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When you are in the market for a new vehicle, you likely want to find a car that has the most safety features to protect you in an accident. While safety technology can help you to prevent injuries, they may not be able to prevent all accidents from occurring. One feature of a vehicle that you might not think about when it comes to safety is the color of your vehicle. Most people choose the color of their cars based on how they look. You might want to think carefully about the color of the car that you choose, however. Researchers have found that the color of a vehicle is linked to its risk of being involved in a collision. If your vehicle is one of the riskier colors, it might increase your risk of being involved in an accident.

Which car colors are associated with a higher accident risk?

According to a report in Reader’s Digest, several studies have found a link between the color of cars and their accident involvement rates. This might make it important for you to consider the color of your vehicle more carefully when you are ready to make a purchasing decision. Here are the colors that are associated with the greatest risk of accidents.

1. Black vehicles

Researchers in a few different studies have found that black cars have a much higher accident rate than cars of any other color. One study that was reported in Money Super Market found that black cars are 47% more likely to be involved in collisions than vehicles of any other color. Other researchers have also found a correlation between black vehicles and a higher rate of accidents, finding that black cars are 12 percent likelier to be involved in crashes than cars of other colors.

The primary reason for why black cars are so much likelier to be involved in accidents is because they are harder to see. Black vehicles may blend into their surroundings, making them less visible to other motorists.

2. Gray or silver vehicles

Gray is the second-most dangerous vehicle color while silver closely follows it with the third-highest accident risk. Gray cars have an accident risk that is 11% greater than cars of the safest color. Silver cars have an accident risk that is 10% greater than vehicles of the safest color. Like black vehicles, gray and silver cars are more difficult to see and tend to blend into the background.

3. Blue vehicles

Blue is a very popular car color in the U.S. However, they also have a higher risk of accident involvement than cars of the safest colors. Blue vehicles are involved in accidents 7% more than vehicles that are the safest colors. Blue cars may be likelier to be involved in crashes because a lot of the environment such as the sky is blue. This can make blue cars less visible to other drivers.

4. Red vehicles

Since lower visibility is the primary factor for the increased crash risk of the other most dangerous car colors, it might be difficult to understand why red vehicles also have a higher crash risk. However, red vehicles have a 7% higher crash risk than safer colored cars. Red is a very vibrant color. However, red is used a lot on roads in road signs, traffic control devices, sirens, and brake lights. This might make it harder for other motorists to see the red vehicles with all of the surrounding red.

5. Green vehicles

Green vehicles may also blend into their surroundings because green appears prominently in the landscape, on buildings, and on signs. However, green vehicles are safer than other dangerous colors but still have a higher accident risk than the safest colors because of the inability of drivers to distinguish them from the surroundings.

What colors are associated with the lowest rates of accidents?

Researchers have also identified the vehicle colors that have the lowest risks of accidents. These colors tend to stand out from the background, making them easier for other motorists to see. When you are shopping for a vehicle, you might want to choose one of these colors for your next car.

1. White vehicles

The safest car color is white. White vehicles have a 12% lesser chance of accident involvement than black vehicles under all weather and lighting conditions. White provides a lot of contrast between the vehicles and their surroundings, making these cars easy for other motorists to see.

2. Yellow vehicles

Yellow is also another safe color for vehicles. It is a very bright color, which allows motorists to spot yellow vehicles easily. One study even found that yellow cars are safer than white vehicles. Either color may be a good choice for your next car.

4. Orange vehicles

Like yellow and white vehicles, orange cars have a reduced accident risk. Orange stands out, making the vehicles more visible. It is also not used as frequently for vehicles, making orange cars very easy to spot.

5. Gold vehicles

Gold is another color that is used less frequently for vehicles. However, gold vehicles stand out from the road and are highly visible. This makes gold a safe color choice for cars.

Other factors that increase your accident risk

While research shows that the color of your vehicle may increase or decrease the chance of being in an accident, there are many other factors that can also increase your accident risk. You should avoid engaging in all of the following negligent driving behaviors:

  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Distracted driving
  • Aggressive driving

In addition to these types of negligent driving behaviors, the road and weather conditions can also increase your chances of being involved in an accident. When there is debris in the road or the road has a defect, you may be unable to avoid an accident. Similarly, when the weather is bad, you have reduced visibility and can hydroplane. When it is foggy or rainy outside, drive more carefully so that your speed matches the conditions outside.

Consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles

If you have suffered an injury in a collision that was caused by someone else, you might benefit from seeking the help of an experienced lawyer at the Law Offices of Steven M. Sweat. We can review your potential claim and provide you with an evaluation of how likely you are to win. If we agree to accept your case, we will conduct a thorough investigation to determine all of the potential causes and the liable parties. Call us today to schedule a free consultation so that you can learn about the legal remedies that may be available to you.

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