With Ohio being home to some of the busiest highways and interstates in the country, a high fatality rate associated with car accidents is to be expected. Although the number of traffic-related deaths occurring in the state in 2009 showed an encouraging downward trend, the number still stood close to 1,000.

When deaths from other states are added to that number, the figure comes to nearly 40,000 a year. It is a figure that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says has an American going about every 10 seconds to an emergency room somewhere for treatment concerning a motor-vehicle injury.

And beyond that cost is the financial cost, both to individual motorists and the country as a whole. The CDC estimates that injuries and deaths related to motor-vehicle accidents cost the U.S. about $100 billion a year. Included in that amount is about a $12 million outlay for expenses related to motorcycle accidents, and $5 million for accidents involving bicyclists.

The CDC stresses that most accidents can be prevented, and it has released a fact sheet with tips for reducing traffic deaths and injuries. The recommendations include:

• Increased use of graduated driver license policies for teens
• Better child safety education
• More stringently enforced seat belt laws
• Use of sobriety checkpoints as a drunk driving deterrent

As it currently stands, the prorated expense for each American driver in relation to the $100 billion mentioned above comes to about $500 per year.

Related Resource: www.aboutlawsuits.com "Auto Accidents Cost U.S. Economy $100B Annually: CDC Study" August 26, 2010