Traffic crashes leave many people injured in Wisconsin, but they also take a financial toll on the state.
Figures released by the National Safety Council show traffic crashes can result in major financial and productivity losses for the state and its citizens. In 2007, the cost to Wisconsin's economy topped $3 billion.
Dennis Hughes with the state Bureau of Transportation Safety says those costs continue to climb, as medical and insurance costs go up as well.
In 2007, fatal crashes had an economic impact of nearly $1.2 million each, while crashes involving serious injuries had an average cost of $64,000. Hughes says those figures don't include additional costs such as litigation that can result from a serious traffic accident.
Hughes says the $3 billion price tag shows how important it is for the state to continue its efforts to make the roads safer for drivers.