This paper reports the results of a research project that was completed in October 1993. This project was concerned with the former part of the Federal Republic of Germany. The project was funded by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt). The BASt pursued two major objectives. These are: (1) to estimate the share of those persons injured in road accidents who suffer long term or permanent health impairments and disabilities; and (2) to estimate the costs from these accidents resulting especially for both The Public Health Insurances and for the Public Accident (Workmen's and School) Insurances. The major findings of the project are also discussed in the context of the experience and evidence from other countries. The analysis of data referring to traffic accidents from the year 1987 onwards revealed that, on the average, 10,4% of all injured persons recorded in the road accident statistics suffer from permanent impairments. On this basis, the average reproduction costs of very seriously injured road accident victims in the year 1991 can be estimated at approximately DM 123.000. These are the costs resulting from medical, occupational, and social rehabilitation measures within a five-year period.
Samenvatting