The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is a governmental agency tasked with increasing safety on the roadways across Missouri, Illinois and the rest of the United States. The NHTSA also reports on national statistics related to traffic accidents, fatalities and other related issues. Recently, the agency released a report showing the severe economic damages that motor vehicle accidents cause each year. While the greatest cost is inarguably that of innocent lives claimed in such crashes, the sheer financial toll from these accidents is staggering.
Based on statistics from the year 2010, motor vehicle collisions resulted in approximately $871 billion in monetary damages and economic harm to Americans. This cost breaks down to $277 billion in financial considerations and $594 billion in the form of lost lives along with the decreased quality of live and pain dealt to injured victims. That number may be an eye-opening figure for many. Unfortunately, too many motorists choose to engage in risky behavior when they take to the roads.
In fact, the NHTSA study found that several key behaviors resulted in the greatest costs to the American public in 2010. Those dangerous behaviors include:
Additionally, the study released the following relevant statistics related to 2010:
• Pedestrians and bicyclists – At least 7 percent of the total economic damages came from motor vehicle collisions involving bicyclists and pedestrians. This cost Americans about $19 billion in economic losses. Further, these accidents resulted in another $90 billion in overall societal harm stemming from motor vehicle crashes.
• Seatbelts – According to the NHTSA, seatbelts saved the nation about $69 billion in lost productivity, medical costs and other related costs associated with injuries. On the flip side, at least 5 percent of the total economic damages dealt to Americans in 2010 in vehicle collisions involved unbelted occupants. This cost the nation $14 billion in economic damages and $72 billion in overall harm to society.
Closer to home, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has also published statistics related to traffic accidents in Missouri. According to a booklet the Highway Patrol provided based on 2012 data:
That last statistic may not seem overly shocking, considering the national statistics showing the role that dangerous behaviors like drunk driving, distracted driving and speeding play in the vast majority of traffic accidents. Unfortunately, those who pay the highest price in these costly collisions are the innocent victims who are injured or even killed through no fault of their own.
Many who suffer injuries or lose a loved one in these motor vehicle accidents may be unsure of their rights under Missouri and Illinois law. By contacting my St. Louis personal injury law firm toll-free at 1-888-586-7041, we can help inform you about the rights you have. This may involve filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the driver or parties believed responsible. If we successfully settle or litigate your case, it could result in the awarding of financial restitution that may help you move on from your injury or loss. Please call us as soon as possible to discuss the facts of your case and how you may be able to recoup your economic damages.
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Source Article: Article called “New NHTSA Study Shows Motor Vehicle Crashes Have $871 Billion Economic and Societal Impact on U.S. Citizens” from the NHTSA posted at http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2014/NHTSA-study-shows-vehicle-crashes-have-$871-billion-impact-on-U.S.-economy,-society. Also Missouri statistics taken from report at http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/SAC/pdf/2013E.pdf.