Crashes by NYC Government-Wwned Vehicles Get More Costly

by Meir Sternhill

Accidents caused by vehicles owned by New York City's government are costing the city more each year, according to a report by the comptroller's office.

A report titled "Wreckless Spending: The Accelerating Cost of City Car Crash Settlements" lays out how the sizes of the sums paid out to victims have jumped six-fold in a decade. 

In 2021, the report released by Comptroller Brad Lander writes, $130 million was paid to settle personal injury claims related to crashes involving City-owned vehicles. This number is double the $67.4 million in 2015, just six years prior.

The rise is not due to more crashes occurring, a number that has actually gone down. Rather, the cost of each case continues to rise. For example, the average amount paid to settle a claim in 2012 was $15,187, a figure that rose to $242,365 in 2021. The median amount paid to victims also went from $9,000 in 2012 to $50,000 in 2021.