
Top 10 Safest Used Cars for Under $10,000
Audi and Volvo models hold the first five spots on a U.S. World & News Report 2018 list of “safest used vehicles under $10,000.” It's not surprising these luxury brands lead the pack since upscale brands tend to be early adopters of safety technology.
The list order reflects rankings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), test results (where available) from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), and recall histories. It's a handy resource for parents looking to buy the first car for a teen, young families or anyone who just wants a car with some of the most life-saving features at an affordable price.
Safety Features Proven to Save Lives
Advances in technology are making vehicles safer than ever before. According to a study by the IIHS, lane departure warning technology – which alerts sleepy or distracted drivers that they are straying into another lane – by itself resulted in an 11% drop in single-vehicle, sideswipe, and head-on crashes in 2015.
...Allstate Insurance refused to pay full benefits to our client, Susan, injured in a multi-car crash. We took them all the way to court and the jury agreed with us – Susan had paid for coverage in case she was injured by an uninsured driver and she was entitled to it. Her settlement covered medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and attorney's fees.
Susan C. was anxious to get home. The roads were icing over in Corpus Christi – a rare occurrence – and she'd had to stay late at work. It was about 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 3, 2011, when she entered the on-ramp to the Crosstown Expressway. Suddenly, she was struck from behind, a blow that propelled her car forward. She was t-boned on the passenger side by a second vehicle. A third vehicle clipped her, sending her into a tailspin that landed her smashed up against a concrete retaining wall.
As she sat in her car, shaken and injured, the other vehicles involved in the pile-up left the scene. None identified themselves. Hard to believe, but it happens all the time. More than one-in-ten Texas motorists – 2.6 million altogether – do not carry vehicle insurance. This puts all of us motorists at risk.
...How to Find VINs, Tire Stats and Other Information on Your Vehicle
Vehicle and tire recalls are issued so often it would be easy to succumb to “concern fatigue” and decide to think about it later. But some recalls — like airbag recalls on older vehicles that have spent time in hot, humid climates — are more important than others. These vehicles often found along the coastlines of Texas and other southern states, are 50% more likely to explode, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Tires usually are recalled because NHTSA or the tire company has received numerous reports of crashes due to tire failure. After investigating many such crashes and representing their victims, I know how critical it is to be knowledgeable about tire safety and pay attention to recalls. Drivers often miss tire recalls!
So where do you find such important information on your vehicle?
...Stop Riding Phoenix 200 ATVs and Check for Crash Risk
Affected ATVs are all model year 2014-2017 and were sold in blue and gray. To determine if you have one of these ATVs look for “Polaris” stamped on the front grill and on the sides of the seats, and “Phoenix 200″ stamped on the side panels. Model numbers A14PB20AF, A15YAP20AF, A16YAP20AF, and A17YAP20A8 are included in this recall. The model number is located on the vehicle frame. To check for recalled vehicles by vehicle identification number (VIN) visit www.polaris.com. For more info contact Polaris at 800-765-2747.
Taking the “Mystery” Out of Mysterious Crashes
Our team of experienced attorneys knows that when a motorcycle and ATV crashes for no apparent reason, it's important to take a closer look.