An impact to the side of a vehicle is somewhat more likely to cause serious injury or death than other types of vehicular accidents. One reason is the greater crush factor that exists for impacts to the side of the vehicle. The side of your car is more likely to crush from the force of impact than the front or rear of your vehicle because it lacks the protection of front and rear bumpers, as well as other structural parts of the vehicle that protect occupants from injury. While modern-day auto safety technology, including the employment of side airbags, reduce the risk of serious injury, the chance of catastrophic loss caused by a broadside hit remains very high. This is also true due to the proximity of car occupants to the point of impact. While a front or rear impact may cause injury due to indirect impact and forces within the interior of one's own vehicle, the direct force of impact caused by a side collision can be much more devastating.