Estimates of the Economic and Human Consequences of Motor Vehicle Accidents in Virginia

Report No: 82-R48

Published in 1982

About the report:

The 1980 Crash Facts shows that 1,045 people were killed and 58,036 injured-in the 116,382 motor vehicle crashes that occurred in Virginia during 1980. Crash Facts estimates that these accidents imposed an economic loss of $90,000,000. The death and injury figures are disaggregated in many ways, but two statistics are missing. First, the economic loss is not divided into its component parts. Rigorous analysis requires that the separate components of economic loss be identified and estimated before they are summed into a single estimate. Second, little attempt is made to describe the severity of the crash victims' injuries. An investigation into these injuries would not only improve the cost estimate, it also would help place the traffic safety problem in the human context of pain and suffering rather than the abstract terms of dollars and cents. This report is an attempt to derive the two missing statistics.

Documents

82-R48

_{Disclaimer Statement:The contents of this report reflect the views of the author(s), who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Any inclusion of manufacturer names, trade names, or trademarks is for identification purposes only and is not to be considered an endorsement.}

Authors

Daniel John Regan

Last updated: January 21, 2024