Costliest Work Comp Claims Come from Car Crashes
According to NCCI data, the costliest lost-time workers’ compensation claims by cause of injury result from motor-vehicle crashes, averaging $85,311 per workers’ compensation claim filed in 2019 and 2020.
The other causes with above-average costs were burns ($54,173), falls or slips ($48,575), and caught ($44,588). (NCCI defines “caught” as “when a person, or part of a person’s body, is squeezed, pinched, compressed, or crushed in operating equipment, between other meshing or shifting objects, between two stationary objects, or in wire or rope.”)
Nature of injury
The costliest lost-time workers’ compensation claims by nature of injury are for those resulting from amputation. These injuries averaged $118,837 per workers’ compensation claim filed in 2019 and 2020. The next highest costs were for injuries resulting in fracture, crush, or dislocation ($60,934), other trauma ($60,288), and burns ($48,671).
Part of the body
The costliest lost-time workers’ compensation claims by part of body are for those involving the head or central nervous system. These injuries averaged $93,942 per claim filed in 2019 and 2020. The next highest costs were for injuries involving multiple body parts ($62,859). Injuries to the hip, thigh, and pelvis ($59,758), leg ($59,748), neck ($59,391), and arm or shoulders ($49,116) also had above-average costs.
The Good News
According to a recent article by Claims Journal, overall frequency and severity of claims have been improving lately. When looking at all claims, the claims that cost less than $5,000 increased by 21% in 2021, thus pointing to the decline in overall claims severity.
[return to top]
Costliest Work Comp Claims Come from Car Crashes
AI and Data Science Join Forces to Enhance Workplace Safety
Addressing the Growing Problem of Mental Health in the Workplace
NCCI Update on COVID-19 Court Cases
The information presented and conclusions within are based upon our best judgment and analysis. It is not guaranteed information and does not necessarily reflect all available data. Web addresses are current at time of publication but subject to change. SmartsPro Marketing and The Insurance 411 do not engage in the solicitation, sale or management of securities or investments, nor does it make any recommendations on securities or investments. This material may not be quoted or reproduced in any form without publisher’s permission. All rights reserved. ©2023 Smarts Publishing. Tel. 877-762-7877. https://smartspublishing.com