Motorcycle accident injury severity, blood alcohol levels, insurance status, and hospital costs: a 4-year study in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Clinical, demographic, and financial information for 337 patients injured in motorcycle accidents who were admitted to a community hospital over a 4-year period was reviewed for injury severity, prevalence and degree of alcohol intoxication, and effects of insurance status on hospital, patient, and community costs. Ninety percent of the patients were males (average age 31 years), and 52% had some form of insurance. Of those tested at the time of admission, 36% had blood alcohol levels of > or = 100 mg%. Uninsured patients had higher blood alcohol levels (p = 0.0001), as did older patients (p = 0.01). Forty percent of patients had injury severity scores of > or = 16. Uncompensated costs to the hospital of caring for the uninsured totalled > $850,000 over the 4 years. The need to enforce existing statutes and to increase awareness through education is discussed, and statutory changes are recommended.