For many years, safety experts reported that adult passengers seated in the rear seat of a vehicle were safer than front-seat occupants were. As such, not much attention has been given to rear-seat safety in recent years. However, many crash researchers feel that the time has come to improve vehicle safety for those riding in the back of vehicles.

Over the past two decades, the overall survival rate for those involved in car accidents has improved, especially for front-seat occupants. Unfortunately, carmakers have not made many advancements to protect rear-seat passengers more effectively. Because of this lack of attention, the rear seat is no longer the safest place to be if you are an adult involved in a car accident.

Even when passengers use safety restraints in the back seat, their risk of death in a crash remains significantly elevated. As long as manufacturers focus more on crash avoidance than crash survival, rear-seat passengers will likely remain at a high risk of death or catastrophic injury if a car accident occurs.

What can Illinois residents do to demand better safety features? You can use your voice to speak out when the lack of safety technology contributes to the death of a loved one.

One possible way to call attention to rear-seat safety issues is to ask a lawyer if the lack of proper safety equipment played a role in the death of a passenger. An attorney experienced in handling car accident cases can help you explore all possible factors that caused your loved one’s death. Regardless of the outcome, taking action may help you find justice and closure.

Source: CBS News, “In car crashes, backseat can be more dangerous than the front,” Kate Gibson, accessed June 07, 2018