Costs of Car Accidents in Ohio Rank High In CDC Study

August 25, 2011

The carnage on America's roads is so constant that it's easy to become desensitized it. It's important, however, to take a moment and ponder the scale of the pain -- and consider what can be done to lessen the terrible toll.

In 2010, an estimated 32,788 people died in car accidents. These numbers represented a slight reduction from the year before, in which more than 33,000 people were killed and over two million more were injured in traffic-related crashes. Even so, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its participation in the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety campaign, has announced startling findings from its analysis of financial losses associated with motor vehicle deaths. These findings shed light on the sheer scale of the problem of vehicle accidents, both in Ohio and across the country.

Where Ohio Ranks in Car Accident Costs

The CDC is the nation's leading public health agency. In its study of car accidents, the agency reviewed a wide range of data concerning car accidents and attempted to quantify the financial impact of the deaths and serious injuries people suffer in them.

The analysis revealed that 10 states shouldered more than half of the costs for national highway fatalities. The highly populated states of California, Texas and Florida topped the list. But Ohio ranked ninth with $1.23 billion in total losses. In the Buckeye State, with a population of 11 million, traffic fatalities cost residents a total of $13 million in medical costs and another $1.21 billion in work losses.

Ohio's Highway Safety Plan

Like other states, Ohio has a federally mandated Strategic Highway Safety Plan that is intended to reduce human losses on the road. Although the number of fatalities has come down somewhat in recent years, the human losses remain immense.

The CDC study contains recommendations for further improvements in safety. The recommendations include better enforcement of seat belt laws, enacting universal motor cycle helmet laws for all riders, and instituting a stricter, more comprehensive graduated drivers licensing system for new drivers.

In the age of the text message, further efforts to confront and discourage distracted driving should also be on the table.

Understand Your Options After an Accident

When an automobile crash does occur, it tragically changes lives. It may be life-changing not only for the injured person, but for his or her family. And the personal costs to families impacted by motor vehicle deaths are far more than monetary. A family that loses a child, sibling or parent loses the coherence of the family group in way that impacts all family members for the rest of their lives.

If someone in your family has been injured or killed in a car crash, contact an experienced personal injury in your area to discuss your legal options. A lawyer can help you assert your rights and pursue appropriate compensation for your injures.

Article provided by Gervelis Law Firm
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