Many factors can affect the risk of a car accident. Weather, road conditions, and driver negligence have the most influence. However, some drivers have suggested that the color of the other motorist’s vehicle affected their ability to see and avoid it. This raises the question of whether a link exists between car color and crash risk in Las Vegas, NV.
The issue of car color is most likely to be raised by an at-fault driver trying to avoid liability for an accident. In other words, the other driver may try to shift blame to the color of your car and away from their carelessness in failing to spot it.
The legal team at De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers works to hold negligent drivers accountable for the accidents they cause. If you were hurt in a collision, contact our Las Vegas car accident lawyers at (702) 222-9999 for a free case assessment.
How De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Crash in Las Vegas, NV
De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers is a family-run law firm established to provide high-quality legal services to injury victims in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined legal experience taking on at-fault parties and their insurers. Since the firm’s founding, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
Our skilled legal team can provide the following services if you suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions:
- Reviewing your situation and identifying your legal options
- Gathering evidence proving the other party’s liability for your losses
- Filing an insurance claim and negotiating a fair settlement
- Litigating against the at-fault party and their insurer if settlement negotiations fail
A car accident case can raise complex legal and factual issues. Contact our law firm for a free consultation to discuss your accident with a knowledgeable Las Vegas personal injury attorney.
Scientific Research on Car Color and Crash Risk
Some car colors may be less visible in certain situations. For example, black or dark blue cars might be more difficult to see on unlit roads at night. Conversely, white, yellow, or silver cars might produce a blinding glare in sunlight.
Scientists and engineers have studied the change in crash risk attributable to car color with conflicting results. Some studies have found that the color of your car could increase your chances of being in a collision. Others have found no statistically significant effect of color on crashes.
The New Zealand Study
One of the earliest research projects on this subject took place in New Zealand. Scientists at the University of Auckland analyzed over 1,100 car crashes. Half were selected because they caused serious injury or death. The other half constituted a randomly selected control group.
The New Zealand study compared the crash risk of various colors using white cars as the standard and reached the following conclusions:
- Silver cars were significantly less likely to be involved in injury crashes
- Brown, black, and green cars were more likely to be involved in injury crashes
- Yellow, gray, red, and blue cars had the same crash risk as white cars
Importantly, the researchers conducted a statistical analysis that controlled for factors like alcohol or drug use leading to DUI accidents. They also isolated car color from the time of day and weather conditions during the crash. They concluded that brown, black, and green cars are always more dangerous than other colors, regardless of the circumstances of the crash.
The Australian Study
A study in Australia looked at even more crashes than the New Zealand study. Engineers at Monash University in Victoria, Australia, reviewed hundreds of thousands of crashes and grouped cars into 17 colors. The researchers conducted a statistical analysis that isolated the effects of color from external factors like driver characteristics and accident conditions.
The Monash University study reported that red and silver cars had a significantly higher crash risk than white cars. While blue, green, and gray vehicles had a higher crash risk than white cars, the analysis indicated that the increase wasn’t statistically significant. In other words, the heightened risk for these colors might simply have come from noise in the data.
These conclusions directly contradict those of the New Zealand study, which found that silver cars were the safest. The only agreement between the studies was that green vehicles may have a higher crash risk.
The U.S. Study
A study by the University of Dayton acknowledged the conflict among earlier research projects analyzing the risks of certain car colors. The Dayton study contradicted the two earlier studies and may have ended the debate. This study found no statistical correlation between car color and crash risk. In other words, all colors have the same risk within a margin of error.
Contact Our Skilled Las Vegas Car Accident Attorneys For a Free Initial Consultation
An experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can push back against shaky defenses, such as when a careless driver blames the color of your car for a collision. Contact De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn how we can tailor a legal strategy to pursue financial compensation for your injuries. For more information, feel free to visit our Las Vegas car accident law offices today.
