State Farm-sponsored report provides updated estimates to help employers understand the financial impact of crashes and strengthen fleet safety investments.
The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), with support from State Farm, has released the latest edition of its flagship report, Costs of Motor Vehicle Crashes to Employers: Latest Available Estimates and Key Findings (2026)™, which provides updated data and analysis on the financial impact of motor vehicle crashes on employers.
The report offers detailed estimates by industry and geography, along with analyses of key crash risk factors including speeding, distracted driving, alcohol use, and non-seat belt use. The findings are intended to help employers better understand the true cost of crashes affecting their organizations and support data-driven investments in fleet safety and employee road safety initiatives.
According to the updated estimates, the average on-the-job crash costs employers nearly $56,000, underscoring how even a single incident can create significant financial and operational consequences for an organization. The findings also highlight the substantial costs employers incur from off-the-job crashes involving employees and their dependents through health-related benefits, lost productivity, and insurance-related expenses.
“Behind every crash statistic is an employee, a family, and a business impacted by an event that may have been preventable,” said Tom Karnowski, Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety at USIC and NETS Board Chair. “The updated Costs of Motor Vehicle Crashes to Employers report gives organizations the data they need to better understand their risk, prioritize investments, and strengthen their safety programs before incidents occur.”
The report was made possible through the support of State Farm, a NETS Board member since 2021.
“As a member of the NETS Board of Directors, State Farm is proud to support this research quantifying the costs employers bear due to motor vehicle crashes,” said Liz Pulver, Senior Program Manager, Transportation Safety Research, State Farm and NETS Board Vice-Chair. “The findings reinforce State Farm’s longstanding commitment to research and education that help make roads safer for everyone.”
In conjunction with the updated report, NETS has also released an updated Cost of Crashes Calculator, an online tool that helps employers estimate the financial impact of crashes within their own organizations and build the business case for investment in road safety initiatives.
“Employers are essential partners in reducing roadway risk and advancing the Safe System Approach because they can turn safety principles into daily practice,” said Art Kinsman, Chief Strategy Officer of NETS. “While the human toll is most devastating, crashes also impose a largely hidden $62 billion annual cost on employers through health benefits, sick leave, liability, vehicle damage and lost productivity. This report shows that crash prevention is both sound business practice and a corporate responsibility that protects employees and everyone who shares the road.”
Together, the report, Cost of Crashes Calculator, and NETS Strength IN Numbers® Benchmark Program provide employers with practical tools to better understand roadway risk, measure performance, and build stronger business cases for investing in fleet safety.
The full report is available at www.trafficsafety.org
