Each year, thousands of Americans are injured or killed in automobile accidents. Automobile accidents are not only dangerous; they are also costly, not only in vehicle repairs, but also in medical expenses. A recent study issued by the centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, exposes annual economic costs of automobile accidents has reached nearly $100 billion annually. Recently published in the Traffic Injury Prevention journal, these figures indicate a $500 rise per licensed driver nationwide.
The CDC used data from 2005, the most current and complete figures of nationwide accidents. Accidents analyzed were injury accidents, some fatal and some not, and cost figures from multiple injury accidents. Nearly 70 percent of the costs were related to accidents involving cars and smaller trucks. The other 30 percent was divided between accidents involving motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Dr. Grant Baldwin, director of Unintentional Injury Prevention at the CDC says that every minute of every day, six people are treated in emergency rooms across the country for injuries sustained at automobile accidents. Almost 110 Americans die every day from injuries sustained in accidents. The numbers compiled in this study reflect the costliness of accidents.
The research also discovered many other astounding facts. Fatal injuries cost the economy nearly $60 billion. Non-fatal injuries that required a hospital stay accounted for an additional $28 billion. Emergency rooms treated and released many accident victims, but racked up $14 billion in bills. A staggering 70 percent of deaths and 52 percent of injuries were men and their plight accounted for nearly two-thirds of the entire cost indicated in this study. Bikers may have racked up nearly $12 billion in medical bills, but only accounted for six percent of all fatalities. Automobile accidents can be devastating and some cannot be avoided. By following safety measures, many accidents can. Wearing proper restraints, on adults and children alike, will reduce fatalities and injuries tremendously. Be safe¦Buckle Up!