California crash victims face $1.9 million fatal crash cost risk due to slowest response times in U.S.

Severe injuries from car crashes result in the most expensive auto insurance claims due to long-term disability, rehab, and lengthy hospital stays. The economic cost of a fatal crash averages $1.9 million, while disabling injuries average $167,000. These costs are influenced by the early minutes following a crash. California emergency response times at fatal crash scenes are twice the national average. While the national average response time is 10 minutes, it takes approximately 19.6 minutes for emergency services to reach accidents in California. Longer response times correlate with higher crash death rates. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, about 40% of people who die in fatal car crashes were still alive when first responders arrived but later died. Faster emergency care limits complications such as shock, severe bleeding, or lack of oxygen.