Health and social consequences of road traffic accidents

Abstract

Road traffic accidents are a serious problem worldwide. Although the Czech Republic, and also the European Union and the World Health Organization outlay resources to reduce the number of road traffic accidents, in 2015 an average of 1.8 people died daily and 59 people had their life or health affected. The consequences of road traffic accidents primarily affect the direct participants of road traffic accidents and their families. The direct participants of road traffic accidents particularly suffer health consequences. Due to the fact that road traffic accidents lead to a large number of fatal incapacitating injuries, the consequences of these accidents are fundamentally reflected in the social sphere. This concerns job losses and the related financial hardships, loss of amenity and a fatal impact on the functioning of the whole family. We should not forget that the psychological impact of the consequences of road traffic accidents do not only to affect the direct participants, but also their families. The costs associated with road traffic accidents are shouldered by the whole society. Although the Czech Republic provides assistance to the victims of road traffic accidents–financial, medical, or social, other European Union countries give these victims greater possibilities mainly through allowances and social measures. The aim of this study is to analyze the health and social consequences of road traffic accidents. The selected method of data processing was textual analysis of documents.