Advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, are spreading to new vehicles across the globe, and New Jersey residents may be wondering if these systems live up to the hype. While no one should purchase ADAS until trying it out, one can at least consider the things that it does and how well it does them.
The main purpose of ADAS is to avert collisions through the use of cameras and sensors. Drivers who have forward and rear collision warning, blind-spot detection and pedestrian detection can be alerted to a crash and given sufficient time to respond. If they are too late, the car will activate a feature called automatic emergency braking.
ADAS technology also keeps drivers safe by maintaining a good following distance via adaptive cruise control and by preventing lane drifting by way of lane departure warning. The cumulative effect of these features is helpful for preventing crashes. According to LexisNexis Risk Solutions, ADAS vehicles are the subject of 27% fewer bodily injury claims and 19% fewer property damage claims than other vehicles.
Not all accidents can be prevented, of course; on the contrary, ADAS can give rise to new ones. For example, the automatic emergency braking may come on at the wrong times, or drivers, not knowing the limitations of ADAS, may sit back and use their phone, putting everyone at risk.
Whether they involve crash avoidance technology or not, car accidents can lay the foundation for a personal injury claim as long as there is evidence of one side bearing most of the blame. This is where the concept of negligence comes in. Victims may want a lawyer to evaluate their case and determine if a third-party claim is possible in this no-fault state. If it is, the lawyer may be able to tackle negotiations for a settlement.