Car Color and Crash Risk

A landmark analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified the top causes of car accidents as driver error (94%), environmental conditions (2%), and mechanical failures (2%). The NHTSA did not identify a link between car color and crash risk.

However, other studies have found that car color might combine with other factors to increase or decrease crash risk. For example, certain colors might amplify the effects of glare, leading to a head-on collision

At Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll sort through all the factors involved in your Chicago, IL, crash, including car color, to determine liability for your injuries. Contact our Chicago auto accident lawyers for a free case evaluation at (312) 929-2884 to discuss your legal options.

How Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After an Auto Accident in Chicago, IL

How Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After an Auto Accident in Chicago, IL

Since its founding in 2011, Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers has successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured people in Chicago, Illinois. Our attorneys have over 30 years of combined legal experience standing up for our clients against powerful insurance companies.

If you suffer an injury in an incident caused by someone else’s actions, our Chicago car accident lawyers will provide the following services:

  • Discuss your accident and legal options with you
  • Assemble evidence, including medical records, for your case
  • Prepare your insurance claim and negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurer
  • File a lawsuit if the insurer fails to settle

A driver is responsible for their negligent acts regardless of the color of their car. Contact our Chicago personal injury lawyers for a free consultation to learn how we will tailor a legal strategy to hold the at-fault driver liable for your injuries.

How Many Crashes Happen in Chicago Where Car Color May Be a Factor?

In 2022, Chicago had 97,388 traffic accidents. These collisions happened in all conditions, but most occurred during daylight with clear skies and dry roads. Car color could play a role in a crash when a driver has poor visibility due to rain, darkness, or similar conditions.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago’s crashes in 2022 occurred during the following adverse conditions:

  • 18,374 crashes between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
  • 7,948 collisions in rainstorms
  • 4,014 accidents during snowstorms
  • 150 crashes in blowing snow
  • 113 crashes during sleet or hailstorms
  • 92 crashes during foggy, smokey, or hazy conditions
  • One crash in blowing sand

Of the crashes during darkness, 4,100 happened on roads without street lights, where drivers might have trouble recognizing dark-colored cars.

Riskiest Car Colors

Three studies have examined the role of car color in crashes. The first study was conducted in 2003 by researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. The second study occurred in 2007 at Monash University in Australia. The third study was conducted in South Korea in 2013. These studies reached the following conclusions:

Blue

The studies gave blue cars highly mixed ratings. The South Korean study found that blue cars had the greatest number of accidents. The Australian and New Zealand studies found that crash rates for blue cars were elevated slightly.

Green

All three studies also found that green cars had increased crash risks. Two studies found this risk significant, while the Australian study only found a slightly higher crash risk.

Red

You might expect red cars to have high visibility and, thus, low crash risk. The South Korean study found that red cars had an average crash risk. However, the Australian and New Zealand studies reported radically different results for red cars. The Australian study found red to be one of the most dangerous colors, while the New Zealand study reported it to be one of the safest.

Yellow

The study from South Korea reported that yellow cars have the lowest crash risk. As noted in the study, yellow is universally recognized as a high-visibility color. Traffic lights, signs, and lane markings use yellow. Traffic cops, construction workers, and crossing guards wear the color on their safety vests.

The New Zealand study agreed that a yellow car has a significantly lower crash risk. The study from Australia found only a slightly lower crash risk for cars of this color.

Silver and Gray

The New Zealand study found that silver and gray cars had the lowest crash risks. This makes sense because these colors are highly visible without necessarily creating the glare caused by brighter colors. The South Korean study agreed that silver and gray cars have lower-than-average crash risks.

However, silver and gray cars had the highest crash risks in the Australian study. The researchers did not theorize why they found that silver and gray produced more crashes. Their study categorized crash risk by the time of day, and these cars scored poorly at dawn and dusk. This suggests glare or the angle of the sun might play a role.

Schedule a Free Case Assessment With Our Experienced Chicago Car Accident Attorneys

The most likely way that car color will arise in an accident claim is if the at-fault driver tries to shift the blame to you based on your car color. Contact Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn how we can keep the focus on the driver who caused the crash.

Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Chicago, IL

Attorneys of Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers
Address:
134 N La Salle St #2160
Chicago, IL 60602

Phone:
(312) 929-2884

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