Final answer:
The estimated economic cost of alcohol-related crashes in 2006 was $130 billion, reflecting a significant toll on society from vehicle damages to medical costs, lost productivity, and more.
Step-by-step explanation:
The estimated economic cost of alcohol-related crashes in the United States in 2006, including both monetary costs and insurance claims, was $130 billion. This significant figure reflects the comprehensive expenses associated with vehicle damages, medical expenses, lost productivity, and legal costs among other factors. When considering the total damage incurred by car accidents in a sample group of 100 drivers, a simplified example of automobile insurance illustrates the costs when drivers have small, medium, and large accidents, amounting to a total damage cost of $186,000 for that group alone. Alcohol intoxication contributes to a substantial number of accidents, which, according to some sources, may include both direct and indirect fatalities each year, highlighting the heavy toll that alcohol-related crashes can impose on society.