Can the Color of Your Car Increase Your Accident Risk?

There is a reason why insurance companies may charge different premium rates depending on the color of the vehicle for which you are seeking coverage. There are different accident rates and risks for motor vehicles based on their color. Studies show that lighter cars may be involved in fewer car accidents than darker vehicles. The reasons are primarily due to their visibility and other drivers having the ability to spot them on the road.

Accident Rates Depend in Part on Visibility

Much of what your car accident risks depend on what other drivers see and perceive. For example, a “white” car could be more dangerous during snowy Buffalo-area winters. If you are driving during the day in the snow, other drivers may not be able to see your vehicle because it blends in with the weather conditions. However, white cars may be safer at night because other drivers can more easily see them against the backdrop of the evening sky.

The inverse is true of “black” cars. These vehicles may be easier to spot in snow and rainy conditions, but they may be harder to see at night. Drivers may have more difficulty spotting a black vehicle, especially when the area in which they are driving is not well-lit. Although a driver does not need to take extra care based on the color of the vehicle they are driving, those who drive black cars should anticipate that others may not be able to see them on the roadway.

Since there are more serious car accidents at night, and black cars are the hardest to see, it may follow that driving black vehicles has the highest risk of a car accident. Empirically, this is backed up by some data. One study shows that accident rates involving black vehicles are 12% higher than those involving white cars.

Lighter Color Cars May Have Lower Accident Rates

Car color is not a binary choice between two shades. There are other colors of vehicles on the road, in addition to white cars, which have a potentially lower accident risk than other types of vehicles; “silver” and “yellow” vehicles also may be involved in fewer motor vehicle crashes. This lends support to the contention that lighter color cars have a lower accident risk than darker ones.

There is some question about whether the actual color of your car makes a difference in the accident rate, or whether aggressive drivers tend to gravitate towards certain car colors. There is some speculation that “red” cars are commonly associated with aggressive drivers, but there are also questions about whether this shade of car elicits reactions from other motorists, as opposed to being driven by dangerous people. There is spotty evidence at best that stands for the fact that certain aggressive drivers tend to select specific car colors.

In the end, whether vehicles present a risk to others on the road depends more on the driver involved than the color of the car. Those who have risky behaviors can be a danger to everyone, regardless of the color of the car they are driving. If a driver has caused your accident injuries through their negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation from them. It would be their actual behavior that is the issue in your claim that could make them liable.

Contact Our Cheektowaga Car Accident Lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys if You Are Seeking Compensation for Your Car Crash Injuries

No matter what time of day your crash occurred, you can always count on our Cheektowaga car accident lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys to lend a helping hand. Our job is to fight for you to get the maximum possible money for your car accident injuries. For a free case review, call us today at 716-648-3030 or fill out our online contact form. Located in Hamburg, New York, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.