Insurers See Risk First: New APCIA Report Shows How Insurance Data Is Mapping the Future of Road Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. - OCTOBER 2, 2026 - America's roads are measurably safer, and insurers are helping chart what comes next. A new report from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), A New Road Ahead for Auto Insurance: Safer Vehicles, Higher Claim Costs?, finds that traffic fatalities fell roughly 9-15% from 2022 to 2025, even as Americans drove close to 2.85 trillion miles a year.

Insurance claims data shows what fatality statistics alone cannot. More people now survive serious crashes, modern vehicles cost more to repair, and litigation practices are adding costs that drivers ultimately pay. The report shows how insurers are using that insight to protect drivers and guide smarter policy.

Key findings

Safer roads, and a clearer view of what survivors need. Fatality rates per mile fell about 15-20% from 2023 through 2025, and alcohol- and speed-related deaths declined. Insurers have long supported this progress by funding crash testing through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and advocating for NHTSA safety research. Claims data now shows the next frontier: survivors of serious crashes often need longer, more complex care, and bodily injury claim severity has risen 47% since 2020.

"Fewer families are losing loved ones on our roads, and insurers are proud to have helped drive that progress," said Robert Passmore, Department Vice President for Personal Lines at APCIA. "Our data lets us see what comes next, so drivers, automakers, and policymakers can prepare for it."

Insurers are tracking the true cost of vehicle technology. Automatic emergency braking has cut front-to-rear crashes by about 50%, and newer systems are getting more effective. Insurers also see the repair side of that progress. The average repair now tops $4,800, nearly double 2010, and vehicles six years old or newer cost 55% more to repair than older ones. That insight is why insurers support policies like the REPAIR Act, which would expand access to parts, tools, and repair data and help keep repairs affordable.

Insurers are an early warning system for legal system abuse and fraud. Insurer data shows injury claim costs growing 6-8% a year, compared with 4-5% for general medical inflation. The report attributes much of that gap to litigation practices, undisclosed third-party litigation funding, and phantom medical billing. Estimates cited in the report put excessive tort costs at roughly $1,771 per American each year. Insurers are investing in fraud detection, provider analytics, and early claim review to spot these costs before they reach consumers.

"Insurers see risk trends before anyone else, and we use that insight to protect our customers," Passmore said. "Greater transparency in litigation funding and medical billing would help keep auto insurance affordable for every driver."

Partners in safer roads

The report outlines how insurers are working with drivers, automakers, and policymakers to reduce risk:

• Funding crash testing and safety ratings that speed adoption of lifesaving vehicle features
• Supporting infrastructure investment through bonds, and advocating for NHTSA road safety research
• Backing highway safety enforcement and fair access to vehicle repair parts, tools, and data
• Using claims data, fraud detection, and provider analytics to catch fraud and abuse early
• Advocating for transparency in third-party litigation funding and medical billing

The full report is available here.