Publicly funded health programs and other public services, such as law enforcement and emergency medical services, are greatly impacted whenever someone is injured in a motor vehicle crash. Business also incurs enormous costs from traffic crashes through lost productivity and higher insurance and medical costs. It pays for business to participate in solving this problem. The health care industry shares in the economic burden produced by traffic injuries. Many health care costs of traffic injuries are either not reimbursed or are paid with taxpayer dollars.
Insurance premiums reflect part of the problem.
When a person is injured in a motor vehicle crash, private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, the injured person, or the victim's family pays. When the person is not properly restrained, everyone pays more. Insurance companies frequently assume the financial burden of injuries requiring long term treatment and care and pass the costs on to customers as higher premiums. If an insurance company is not involved, or if the coverage is insufficient, eventually some treatment costs are paid with taxpayer dollars. It also requires the support of partners in private industry, citizen groups, and nonprofit organizations.