A recent study in Connecticut has shown that there has been a sharp rise in the cost of deaths from car accidents. Although the state police and transportation departments conduct road safety campaigns regularly, there has been no reduction in the number of accidents.

According to reports, more than 30,000 people die in car accidents every year in the country. Car accidents not only cause pain and suffering to the victim and the person’s family but also cause considerable damage as well. Car accidents have cost $41 billion in medical cost and work loss costs.

In Connecticut, the total crash-related costs amounted to $263 million. Of this total loss, $3 million was for medical costs and $260 million was related to work loss costs. The study also revealed that most car accidents can be prevented. One way is by strictly enforcing seat belt laws. Also, child passenger safety laws should also be strictly enforced and there is a critical need for a comprehensive driving license system for helping young drivers gain driving experience under low-risk road conditions. A law that also requires all motorcyclists to wear helmets should be enacted.

The Connecticut study also revealed that damages caused by car accidents can also be brought down by simply preventing car crashes. There should be an increase in the number of sobriety checkpoints and deployment of ignition interlocks for those convicted of drunk driving. Another way of reducing damages from car collisions is to prevent injuries when there is a car accident.

Work loss costs are an estimate of the amount that someone would have earned in their lifetime had they had lived. Naturally, if a younger person dies in a car accident, the work loss cost is higher, since a younger workforce has the potential to earn much more.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Cost of deaths from motor vehicle crashes,” Accessed on Dec.30, 2014