Research · NHTSA and Medicare data

What car accident injuries cost to treat

Medical care for a car accident injury averages $2,210 when minor and $363,229 when critical, NHTSA estimates. Hospitals bill far more than they're paid: about 20 cents per dollar for crash injury stays in Medicare's 2024 data. New Jersey surgeons' Medicare bills were the highest of any state for 12 of 15 crash surgeries in 2023. Updated November 4, 2026.

By the Counselworthy team · General information, not legal or medical adviceSources · Download every fact

Medical costs per injured person, by injury level
  1. Level 1 · minor$2,210
  2. Level 2 · moderate$13,269
  3. Level 3 · serious$69,345
  4. Level 4$188,626
  5. Level 5 · critical$363,229

Per person killed: $17,289. NHTSA's crash cost report, 2019 dollars. Levels follow the Abbreviated Injury Scale, 1 minor to 5 critical.

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Every number below is one sentence with its source beside it. A line marked "Counselworthy analysis" is our own work from public data: please credit Counselworthy and link to this page when you use it. Medicare's numbers are for people in Original Medicare, mostly 65 and older, so a bill paid by car or private health insurance can differ. Who pays first after a crash is in our guide, who pays your medical bills and lost wages.

Car accident medical costs by injury severity

  1. Medical costs average $2,210 per person with a minor injury (level 1), NHTSA estimates. (NHTSA's crash cost report, 2019 dollars)

  2. Medical costs average $13,269 per person with a moderate injury (level 2), NHTSA estimates. (NHTSA's crash cost report, 2019 dollars)

  3. Medical costs average $69,345 per person with a serious injury (level 3), NHTSA estimates. (NHTSA's crash cost report, 2019 dollars)

  4. Medical costs average $188,626 per person with a level 4 injury, NHTSA estimates. (NHTSA's crash cost report, 2019 dollars)

  5. Medical costs average $363,229 per person with a critical injury (level 5), NHTSA estimates. (NHTSA's crash cost report, 2019 dollars)

  6. Medical costs average $17,289 per person killed, NHTSA estimates. (NHTSA's crash cost report, 2019 dollars)

  7. A critical injury's medical costs run about 164 times a minor injury's. (Counselworthy analysis of NHTSA's crash cost report, 2019 dollars)

NHTSA's medical costs are per person hurt: national estimates in 2019 dollars, not a bill. What each kind of injury is and how it's treated: common car accident injuries.

Hospital bills after a car accident vs what gets paid

  1. Hospitals were paid about 20 cents of each dollar they billed for these crash injury stays. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024, 393,381 Medicare stays)

What hospitals billed and were paid per stay, national averages, Medicare 2024
Hospital stayBilledPaidPaid per $1Billed Paid
Concussion1,997 stays$62,738$11,35218¢
Brain injury, stupor or coma50,556 stays$83,905$16,19419¢
Major chest trauma20,711 stays$60,953$12,33920¢
Hip or thigh bone surgery109,488 stays$107,408$19,87319¢
Leg or upper arm surgery29,836 stays$121,849$23,01219¢
Fracture, sprain or dislocation29,831 stays$48,017$9,86521¢
Broken hip or pelvis, no surgery25,864 stays$43,525$8,77220¢
Spinal fusion, back66,799 stays$238,593$48,80720¢
Spinal fusion, neck24,959 stays$148,657$29,03420¢
Back or neck surgery, no fusion13,645 stays$110,569$20,70619¢
Multiple serious injuries8,439 stays$101,600$21,23821¢
Surgery, multiple serious injuries11,256 stays$238,355$47,77620¢

"Billed" is the hospital's average covered charge. "Paid" is the average total payment, Medicare's share and the patient's together, deductibles included. In CMS's words, charges vary from hospital to hospital because of differences in hospital charge structures. Each row adds up CMS's diagnosis groups with and without complications, weighted by stays.

New Jersey medical costs vs other states

  1. For 12 of 15 crash injury surgeries we checked, New Jersey surgeons' average Medicare bill was the highest of any state. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023)

  2. New Jersey hospitals' average bill ranked in the top 5 states for 6 of 12 crash injury stays. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024)

What surgeons billed Medicare per surgery, New Jersey against the national average, 2023
SurgeryNew JerseyNationalNJ's rankNew Jersey National
ACL reconstructionCPT 29888$12,540$7,6321st of 29
Knee arthroscopy for torn cartilageCPT 29881$11,268$4,9571st
Lower back fusionCPT 22612$19,000$7,5671st
Lower back fusion with disc removalCPT 22633$19,163$7,1201st
Lower back fusion from behindCPT 22630$9,999$5,8865th of 44
Neck fusion with disc removal (ACDF)CPT 22551$23,137$7,9451st
Herniated disc surgery in the lower backCPT 63030$19,490$6,2021st
Lower back decompression (laminectomy)CPT 63047$17,491$5,7011st
Broken hip repair with a rod or plateCPT 27245$11,454$4,4441st
Broken hip repair with a partial replacementCPT 27236$10,625$4,0741st
Broken shin repair with a rodCPT 27759$10,268$3,6821st
Broken ankle repairCPT 27814$8,951$3,5191st
Broken wrist repairCPT 25607$10,765$4,9242nd of 47
Broken collarbone repairCPT 23515$9,246$4,4211st
Rotator cuff repairCPT 29827$12,468$6,6001st

The surgeon's fee only, in a hospital or surgery center. Ranks count the 50 states and DC with at least 20 of that surgery; "1st" means at least 10% ahead of the next state. What Medicare allowed for each surgery is in its section below.

Where New Jersey hospitals' average bill ranks among the states, Medicare 2024
Hospital stayNJ average billRankNJ stays
Concussion$71,5084th of 2063
Brain injury, stupor or coma$116,7024th of 511,751
Major chest trauma$84,8743rd of 51539
Hip or thigh bone surgery$128,3398th of 513,270
Leg or upper arm surgery$149,9888th of 51747
Fracture, sprain or dislocation$68,0234th of 501,183
Broken hip or pelvis, no surgery$61,7844th of 51882
Spinal fusion, back$238,81313th of 51977
Spinal fusion, neck$169,6039th of 49447
Back or neck surgery, no fusion$127,9037th of 48272
Multiple serious injuries$133,9843rd of 48290
Surgery, multiple serious injuries$275,9258th of 48345

New Jersey hospital costs for the same surgery

  1. For hip or thigh bone surgery, 35 New Jersey hospitals' average bills ran from $67,300 to $514,378. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient data by hospital, 2024, MS-DRG 481)

  2. What those hospitals were paid ran only from $15,575 to $35,234. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient data by hospital, 2024, MS-DRG 481)

  3. The highest average bill was 7.6 times the lowest for the same kind of surgery. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient data by hospital, 2024, MS-DRG 481)

Every New Jersey hospital's average for hip or thigh bone surgery, Medicare 2024Paid Billed Hudson and Bergen
Each New Jersey hospital's average bill and payment for hip or thigh bone surgery, highest bill first
HospitalBilledPaid
Capital Health Regional Medical CenterTrenton · 28 stays$514,378 billed · $22,141 paid
West Jersey HospitalVoorhees · 72 stays$195,495 billed · $16,168 paid
Robert Wood Johnson University HospitalNew Brunswick · 62 stays$159,591 billed · $25,228 paid
Englewood HospitalEnglewood · 51 stays$159,446 billed · $20,379 paid
Virtua Mount Holly HospitalMount Holly · 52 stays$149,706 billed · $16,850 paid
University HospitalNewark · 22 stays$147,313 billed · $35,234 paid
St. Joseph's University Medical CenterPaterson · 46 stays$136,689 billed · $26,736 paid
Jefferson Stratford HospitalStratford · 64 stays$130,384 billed · $19,337 paid
Jersey City Medical CenterJersey City · 37 stays$123,759 billed · $25,374 paid
Cooperman Barnabas Medical CenterLivingston · 41 stays$123,094 billed · $22,434 paid
Cooper University HospitalCamden · 81 stays$119,585 billed · $21,608 paid
Saint Clare's HospitalDenville · 24 stays$115,764 billed · $18,677 paid
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital SomersetSomerville · 39 stays$115,398 billed · $16,483 paid
Hackensack University Medical CenterHackensack · 98 stays$113,348 billed · $24,464 paid
Jersey Shore University Medical CenterNeptune · 80 stays$111,306 billed · $19,964 paid
Atlanticare Regional Medical Center - City CampusAtlantic City · 70 stays$109,817 billed · $18,294 paid
Ocean University Medical CenterBrick · 94 stays$99,927 billed · $19,295 paid
Morristown Medical CenterMorristown · 161 stays$98,954 billed · $20,366 paid
Overlook Medical CenterSummit · 61 stays$98,135 billed · $20,887 paid
Penn Medicine Princeton Medical CenterPlainsboro · 44 stays$98,004 billed · $17,517 paid
Bayshore Medical CenterHolmdel · 29 stays$93,069 billed · $15,987 paid
Chilton Medical CenterPompton Plains · 45 stays$91,979 billed · $17,890 paid
Community Medical CenterToms River · 96 stays$91,947 billed · $17,930 paid
Inspira Medical Center Mullica HillMullica Hill · 29 stays$90,357 billed · $19,402 paid
JFK University Medical CenterEdison · 32 stays$89,829 billed · $20,656 paid
Inspira Medical Center VinelandVineland · 29 stays$89,367 billed · $21,856 paid
Riverview Medical CenterRed Bank · 22 stays$84,760 billed · $15,668 paid
Cape Regional Medical CenterCape May Court House · 41 stays$84,287 billed · $16,214 paid
Southern Ocean Medical CenterManahawkin · 45 stays$84,001 billed · $15,575 paid
Shore Medical CenterSomers Point · 41 stays$83,655 billed · $16,481 paid
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside MedicalMontclair · 32 stays$82,056 billed · $20,217 paid
Hunterdon Medical CenterFlemington · 21 stays$76,245 billed · $17,234 paid
Valley HospitalParamus · 76 stays$73,944 billed · $17,580 paid
Holy Name Medical CenterTeaneck · 23 stays$67,769 billed · $17,768 paid
Centrastate Medical CenterFreehold · 65 stays$67,300 billed · $16,942 paid

Hospitals with at least 20 stays in CMS's group 481 (hip and femur procedures except major joint, with complications), the one most New Jersey hospitals report. CMS leaves out any hospital row from 10 or fewer stays. Marked rows are in Hudson and Bergen counties: Englewood Hospital, Jersey City Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Valley Hospital, Holy Name Medical Center.

ACL surgery cost

  1. Surgeons billed Medicare an average of $7,632 for ACL reconstruction; Medicare allowed $1,436. (CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, national, CPT 29888)

  2. New Jersey surgeons billed $12,540 on average for ACL reconstruction, narrowly the highest of 29 states. (CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 29888)

  3. In New Jersey, the average bill for ACL reconstruction was 1.6 times the national one; Medicare allowed $1,514. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 29888)

What surgeons billed Medicare and what Medicare allowed, per service, 2023
ServiceNew Jersey billedNational billedAllowed, NJAllowed, nationalNJ National
ACL reconstructionCPT 29888 · doctor fee$12,540$7,632$1,514$1,436
Knee arthroscopy for torn cartilageCPT 29881 · doctor fee$11,268$4,957$940$763

"Allowed" is what Medicare approved, its share and the patient's together. In a hospital or surgery center: the doctor's fee only, not the facility's. New Jersey shows "Too few" under 20 services. An ACL repair also has a surgery center or hospital fee and anesthesia, which these numbers leave out.

Spinal fusion cost

  1. A hospital stay for a back spinal fusion was billed at $238,593 on average and paid $48,807. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024, national, 66,799 stays)

  2. In New Jersey, a hospital stay for a back spinal fusion was billed at $238,813 on average and paid $48,798. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024, 977 stays)

  3. A hospital stay for a neck spinal fusion was billed at $148,657 on average and paid $29,034. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024, national, 24,959 stays)

  4. In New Jersey, a hospital stay for a neck spinal fusion was billed at $169,603 on average and paid $30,226. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024, 447 stays)

  5. Surgeons billed Medicare an average of $7,567 for lower back fusion; Medicare allowed $1,442. (CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, national, CPT 22612)

  6. New Jersey surgeons billed $19,000 on average for lower back fusion, the most of any state. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 22612)

  7. In New Jersey, the average bill for lower back fusion was 2.5 times the national one; Medicare allowed $2,314. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 22612)

What surgeons billed Medicare and what Medicare allowed, per service, 2023
ServiceNew Jersey billedNational billedAllowed, NJAllowed, nationalNJ National
Lower back fusionCPT 22612 · doctor fee$19,000$7,567$2,314$1,442
Lower back fusion with disc removalCPT 22633 · doctor fee$19,163$7,120$1,082$1,143
Lower back fusion from behindCPT 22630 · doctor fee$9,999$5,886$1,166$997
Neck fusion with disc removal (ACDF)CPT 22551 · doctor fee$23,137$7,945$1,246$1,326

"Allowed" is what Medicare approved, its share and the patient's together. In a hospital or surgery center: the doctor's fee only, not the facility's. New Jersey shows "Too few" under 20 services.

Herniated disc surgery cost

  1. A hospital stay for back or neck surgery without fusion was billed at $110,569 on average and paid $20,706. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024, national, 13,645 stays)

  2. In New Jersey, a hospital stay for back or neck surgery without fusion was billed at $127,903 on average and paid $20,209. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024, 272 stays)

  3. Surgeons billed Medicare an average of $6,202 for herniated disc surgery in the lower back; Medicare allowed $804. (CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, national, CPT 63030)

  4. New Jersey surgeons billed $19,490 on average for herniated disc surgery in the lower back, the most of any state. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 63030)

  5. In New Jersey, the average bill for herniated disc surgery in the lower back was 3.1 times the national one; Medicare allowed $794. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 63030)

What surgeons billed Medicare and what Medicare allowed, per service, 2023
ServiceNew Jersey billedNational billedAllowed, NJAllowed, nationalNJ National
Herniated disc surgery in the lower backCPT 63030 · doctor fee$19,490$6,202$794$804
Lower back decompression (laminectomy)CPT 63047 · doctor fee$17,491$5,701$618$691
A spinal nerve root injectionCPT 64483 · whole fee$3,585$1,380$290$272
A lower back epidural injectionCPT 62323 · whole fee$2,750$1,069$265$234

"Allowed" is what Medicare approved, its share and the patient's together. In a hospital or surgery center: the doctor's fee only, not the facility's. In an office or clinic: the whole fee. New Jersey shows "Too few" under 20 services.

Broken bone surgery cost

  1. A hospital stay for hip or thigh bone surgery was billed at $107,408 on average and paid $19,873. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024, national, 109,488 stays)

  2. In New Jersey, a hospital stay for hip or thigh bone surgery was billed at $128,339 on average and paid $21,240. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare inpatient hospital data, 2024, 3,270 stays)

  3. Surgeons billed Medicare an average of $4,444 for broken hip repair with a rod or plate; Medicare allowed $959. (CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, national, CPT 27245)

  4. New Jersey surgeons billed $11,454 on average for broken hip repair with a rod or plate, the most of any state. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 27245)

  5. In New Jersey, the average bill for broken hip repair with a rod or plate was 2.6 times the national one; Medicare allowed $1,055. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 27245)

What surgeons billed Medicare and what Medicare allowed, per service, 2023
ServiceNew Jersey billedNational billedAllowed, NJAllowed, nationalNJ National
Broken hip repair with a rod or plateCPT 27245 · doctor fee$11,454$4,444$1,055$959
Broken hip repair with a partial replacementCPT 27236 · doctor fee$10,625$4,074$947$882
Broken shin repair with a rodCPT 27759 · doctor fee$10,268$3,682$823$740
Broken ankle repairCPT 27814 · doctor fee$8,951$3,519$718$757
Broken wrist repairCPT 25607 · doctor fee$10,765$4,924$1,605$1,225
Broken collarbone repairCPT 23515 · doctor fee$9,246$4,421$978$1,011
Rotator cuff repairCPT 29827 · doctor fee$12,468$6,600$1,126$1,152

"Allowed" is what Medicare approved, its share and the patient's together. In a hospital or surgery center: the doctor's fee only, not the facility's. New Jersey shows "Too few" under 20 services.

ER visit, MRI, physical therapy and chiropractor costs

  1. Doctors billed Medicare an average of $1,232 for a high-complexity ER visit; Medicare allowed $170. (CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, national, CPT 99285)

  2. New Jersey doctors billed $1,342 on average for a high-complexity ER visit, 10th highest of 51 states. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 99285)

  3. Doctors billed Medicare an average of $1,235 for a lower back MRI; Medicare allowed $145. (CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, national, CPT 72148)

  4. New Jersey doctors billed $1,416 on average for a lower back MRI, 11th highest of 51 states. (Counselworthy analysis of CMS's Medicare doctor data, 2023, CPT 72148)

What providers billed Medicare and what Medicare allowed, per service, 2023
ServiceNew Jersey billedNational billedAllowed, NJAllowed, nationalNJ National
A high-complexity ER visitCPT 99285 · doctor fee$1,342$1,232$179$170
A moderate ER visitCPT 99284 · doctor fee$898$788$121$115
A low-complexity ER visitCPT 99283 · doctor fee$566$409$71$67
An emergency ambulance ride with advanced life supportCPT A0427 · doctor fee$2,893$1,637$576$523
A head CT scanCPT 70450 · whole fee$617$563$96$76
A lower back MRICPT 72148 · whole fee$1,416$1,235$178$145
A neck MRICPT 72141 · whole fee$1,406$1,233$166$136
A new patient office visitCPT 99203 · whole fee$298$267$116$105
A physical therapy evaluationCPT 97161 · whole fee$218$193$106$99
Physical therapy exercise, per 15 minutesCPT 97110 · whole fee$99$69$24$23
Hands-on physical therapy, per 15 minutesCPT 97140 · whole fee$98$68$22$21
A chiropractic adjustment of 3 or 4 areasCPT 98941 · whole fee$78$61$41$38

"Allowed" is what Medicare approved, its share and the patient's together. In a hospital or surgery center: the doctor's fee only, not the facility's. In an office or clinic: the whole fee. New Jersey shows "Too few" under 20 services.

Quick answers

How much do car accident medical bills cost?
Medical costs average $2,210 per person with a minor injury (level 1), NHTSA estimates. Medical costs average $363,229 per person with a critical injury (level 5), NHTSA estimates. Source
How much does ACL surgery cost?
Surgeons billed Medicare an average of $7,632 for ACL reconstruction; Medicare allowed $1,436. New Jersey surgeons billed $12,540 on average for ACL reconstruction, narrowly the highest of 29 states. Source
How much does spinal fusion cost?
A hospital stay for a back spinal fusion was billed at $238,593 on average and paid $48,807. Surgeons billed Medicare an average of $7,567 for lower back fusion; Medicare allowed $1,442. Source
How much does herniated disc surgery cost?
Surgeons billed Medicare an average of $6,202 for herniated disc surgery in the lower back; Medicare allowed $804. A hospital stay for back or neck surgery without fusion was billed at $110,569 on average and paid $20,706. Source
Do hospitals get paid what they bill?
Hospitals were paid about 20 cents of each dollar they billed for these crash injury stays. Hospitals billed an average of $62,738 for a concussion stay and were paid $11,352. Source

Sources and how we counted

Sources

How we counted

  • NHTSA's medical costs are per injured person, in 2019 dollars, from its national crash cost report (Table 1-2). Injury levels follow the Abbreviated Injury Scale, from 1 (minor) up.
  • Hospital numbers are CMS's 2024 Medicare inpatient data: people in Original Medicare, mostly 65 and older. "Billed" is the hospital's average covered charge; "paid" is the average total payment, including the patient's share.
  • Where one row combines several of CMS's diagnosis groups (with and without complications), we averaged them weighted by stays. That's our analysis, and it's marked.
  • Doctor numbers are CMS's 2023 Medicare data. For surgery in a hospital or surgery center, they're the surgeon's fee only, not the facility's. Office services, scans and therapy are the whole fee.
  • A state or hospital average needs 20 stays or 20 services behind it. Ranks count the 50 states and DC. "The most" needs a 10% lead over the next state.
  • These are averages for Medicare patients. A crash bill paid by car insurance or private health insurance can be different. Nothing here says what your own care will cost.

Use these numbers

Our sentences and analysis are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit Counselworthy and link to this page, or to the fact you use. The NHTSA and Medicare data behind them is public government data. Reporters and researchers can email hello@counselworthy.com.

Service names are our own plain words. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association; codes are shown only to identify each service.

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Counselworthy, "What car accident injuries cost to treat," updated November 4, 2026, from NHTSA's crash cost report and CMS's Medicare data. counselworthy.com/guides/car-accident-medical-costs/

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