Road toll more than just a number

ROAD users in Geelong lodged more than 1400 claims with the Transport Accident Commission in 2018-19, taking the total cost of treating Victorians injured on our roads to $1.6 billion.

Viewed as the hidden road toll, the cost is up more than $110 million from 2017-18 when Greater Geelong road users lodged more than 430 serious injury claims.

TAC rapid recovery head Natalie McColl said the cost of road trauma also extended to the psychological and emotional toll on victims, their families and friends.

“The TAC receives claims from thousands of people that are injured on Victoria’s roads every year and some of those claims can last a lifetime,” Ms McColl said.

“Injuries sustained through road trauma can be varied and have a lifelong effect on not only the people injured, but also on the family and friends supporting them.

“In addition to the physical cost road trauma has on Victorians, it’s impossible to quantify the psychological and emotional costs serious injury or death has on those affected.”

The increased cost of treating road injuries comes as 190 lives have been lost on Victorian roads this year, a 42 per cent increase compared to this time last year. Men (142) make up the majority of the lives lost and are already above the fiveyear average.

The TAC said more than 23,000 claims were lodged for road-related incidents in 2018-19 with the road insurer supporting more than 58,000 people in that time.

The average claim for a lifetime client who experiences serious or life-changing injuries sits at about $2.25 million.

While claims for “supported recovery” clients who contend with complex injuries, persistent pain and mental health problems usually cost about $175,000.