Don't engines do a similar job of going underneath the chassis in high impact collions?
I don't think EV are safer, because there aren't as many data points just yet - but seatbelts definitely help.
> Electric cars are going to make cars significantly safer by avoiding the accident in the first place.
I see no reason why the fuel source has any bearing on accident avoidance.
e.g. Lower/distributed center of gravity makes cars faster to stop, and easier to turn.
This is one of many advantages. Some others are related to: fewer components i.e. fewer failures, instant torque i.e. better handling, etc.
That said, given that an equivalent accident occurred to an ICE car and to an EV from the side[0], "energy is energy" and likely will result in similar injury/fire.
[0] the front/back of EVs have better crumple zones than ICE.
If you watch old car racing competitions, you will see that they were extremely dangerous because of the gas deposit burning at the minimum crash.
How many of those you see today? Close to zero. They let the deposit deform under an accident and it really works.
Electric cars are much safer for humans than ICE in accidents because batteries could displace under people instead of hitting people like engines do.
Electric cars are going to make cars significantly safer by avoiding the accident in the first place.
I prefer having a car that helps me not having an accident than worrying too much about what would happen in a bad enough accident.