Georgia ranks high in fatal crash costs
Automotive crashes in Georgia cost victims -- and their employers -- dearly, according to a new study by the federal government that totaled the costs for fatal wrecks at more than $1.5 billion.
The analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Georgia ranked as the fourth-highest state for medical and work loss costs stemming from fatal crashes. California, with more than $4 billion in losses, lead the list, followed by Texas and Florida.
The findings are based on 2005 data, the freshest available on costs associated with crash deaths. The study, released May 11, did not try to explain the variance in costs between states.
It said the 10 most expensive states were responsible for about half of the entire $41 billion in medical and work loss costs from fatal crashes that year.
After Georgia, the states with the greatest expenses, in descending order, were: Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee. Their costs ranged from $1.5 billion to $1.1 billion.
About the Author
Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.
