We posted previously on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog that our state ranks near the top among states with the most medical costs associated with car accidents — we spend nearly $1.33 billion every year.
Overall, Americans spend approximately $41 billion a year in medical attention, property damage and loss time from work; half of these costs occurred in only 10 states.
Manhattan car accident lawyers know that most Americans can’t afford the cost associated with a crash as we continue to recover from this economic downturn.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports in 2009, that roughly 2.3 million vehicle occupants (drivers and passengers) were treated in emergency rooms. New York crash victims spend $18 million in medical costs and $1.31 billion in work loss costs on average per year.
It is estimated that $415 million (31 percent) is associated with motor vehicle occupants, $258 million (19 percent) goes towards pedestrians and $179 million (13 percent) of the costs are linked to motorcyclists.
Also important to point out is the total costs broken down by age group in which $593 million (45 percent) is young adults ages 20-34 and $418 million (31 percent) is spent on the adult age group ages 35-64. Teens make up only 15 percent of the crash-related costs or approximately $205 million per year.
The CDC estimates that over 1,000 lives could be saved in New York each year with primary enforcement of the seat belt law covering all seat positions and a complete graduated drivers licensing program. Saving a life not only minimizes family tragedy but can also save in costs associated with death caused by a crash.
Some states are considering raising speed limits on roadways. Texas has recently passed a bill to increase the speed limit to 85 mph on some freeways and motorists in Utah will be permitted to drive 80 mph on certain parts of the interstate according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Common sense tells us that fatalities will likely increase in these states since speed-related accidents account for 31 percent of all fatal crashes nationwide.
“We’re willing to raise the speed limit even though we know that if people travel faster we’re going to have more deaths on highways,” says Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
New York is in the minority when it comes to states which don’t permit motorists to travel at a speed limit of 70 mph or higher. New York speed limit laws allow motorists to travel at 65 mph on rural and urban interstates and other limited-access roads. Other roads are marked at 55 mph.
The long and short of avoiding the costly aftermath of a car crash is that motorists should obey state traffic laws, reduce distractions, and always be aware of others (pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists) using the same roadways.
Contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC if you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident in New York City. Someone is available to take your call 24/7 so for a free no-obligation appointment dial 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
New York Drivers Rank in Bottom 5 – Do You Know How to Handle an Accident? New York Injury Lawyer Blog, June 20, 2011
