Maybe you love old cars, so you specifically bought and restored an old 1960s vehicle because it’s a classic. Or, maybe you’re just economically-conscious and you like to drive your cars for as long as possible. If it’s still working, you don’t buy a new one, even if your car is 20 years old.
There are plenty of people who would say both of these reasons to buy older vehicles are good ones. You also often hear people say that “they don’t make them like they used to make them.” They use this as an excuse to stay away from newer vehicles that often come with computers and a lot of tech.
Well, these people are right. They don’t make cars like they used to make them. Instead, they make them far better and far safer. Government studies have actually shown that driving older cars can increase the risks that you face and make injuries more likely if you get involved in an accident. These cars may also make those very accidents more likely.
One reason is that a lot of that tech is geared around safety. Old cars don’t have lane-departure warnings or backup cameras. They don’t have as many airbags and some have none at all. They don’t even have crumple zones. The reason that accident fatalities have dropped over the years is largely because cars are getting better, so driving outdated vehicles negates those advances.
That said, it’s not illegal to drive an older car. No matter what you drive, if you get injured by another driver, you may have a right to compensation for your medical bills and other costs related to the accident. Don’t let an insurance company stop you from getting a fair settlement following a wreck. Get legal assistance with your claim, instead.
