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Tesla Model S fails IIHS crash test

On Behalf of | Jul 11, 2017 | Car Accidents |

North Carolina residents looking to purchase a new car may be interested to learn that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave three vehicles the highest rating for crash worthiness. However, three other vehicles that were also tested by the IIHS failed a major test. One of these vehicles was the Tesla Model S.

The IIHS, like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, puts vehicles through a number of tests to determine their crashworthiness. While the NHTSA had previously given some Tesla models the best vehicle safety rating of any car it has ever tested, the IIHS said that the Model S struggled with the small overlap front test. This particular test looks at the structural integrity of the safety cage. This component is what the driver and the passengers actually sit in. The small overlap front test is designed to test the vehicle’s response to an impact from the front driver-side corner.

According to a vice president for the IIHS, the Model S did not have a strong enough safety belt. Additionally, the dummy used in this particular test moved too far forward when the impact occurred, causing the dummy to hit the steering wheel. The two other vehicles that failed the test were the Ford Taurus and the Chevy Impala.

Although vehicles are getting safer, car accidents can still result in life-threatening injuries. For example, a person could suffer serious head trauma, broken bones and internal damage. When it can be demonstrated through evidence such as the police investigation report and eyewitness testimony that the negligence of another driver caused the accident, an injured victim could ask an attorney to assist in seeking compensation for medical expenses and other losses.

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