Workers' Compensation Statistics That You May Not Know

Although most jobs are relatively safe, sustaining an injury from an acute incident is never outside the realm of possibility. If the injury is severe enough, then you may find yourself submitting a workers’ compensation claim.

It’s very possible that you don’t know a lot about workers’ compensation, and that’s perfectly okay. We’ve covered some tips for submitting a claim in the past, but what we’re going to focus on today are a few statistics about workers’ compensation and workplace injuries that you may not know.

Workers’ Compensation Statistics

There are plenty of facts surrounding workers’ compensation claims that you’ve probably caught wind of over the years, but here are a few that you may not be aware of:

1. Workers’ Compensation Covers the Majority of Workers

The great thing about workers’ compensation is that you are most likely covered by it. Workers’ compensation insurance covers over 140 million workers in the United States, which accounts for more than 94 percent of all employees across the country.

2. Most Claims Don’t Go to Trial

If you’re afraid that you’ll be forced to go through the rigors of trial when submitting a workers’ compensation claim, you shouldn’t. Most claims are processed without anyone seeing the inside of a courtroom. In fact, only approximately five percent of claims ever end up before a judge.

3. The Majority of Denied Claims Get Paid

A big fear of anyone who submits a workers’ compensation claim is that their claim will be denied. If this happens, though, you are absolutely not dead in the water. An incredible 67 percent of denied claims end up being converted and paid.

4. Converted Claims Pay More

The denial of a workers’ compensation claim has another silver lining: your chances of getting a higher amount once the claim has been converted from denied to approved is very good. According to a study conducted by industry leader Lockton, the average amount of money awarded is 55 percent higher on a converted claim.

5. Non-fatal Injuries and Illnesses Number in the Millions

If you find yourself submitting a workers’ compensation claim because you’ve become injured or sick on the job, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, there were nearly three million non-fatal work injuries and illnesses in 2015.

6. Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Cost Billions

Although no employer wants to see their employees get hurt or sick, the unfortunate truth is that many of them do. A recent calculation from only a few years ago puts the estimated costs of workplace injuries and illnesses at $62 billion for all U.S. companies.

7. Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Have Decreased

Despite all of the information above, the truth is that the number of workplace injuries and illnesses have decreased in the past few decades. In 1972, for example, there were 10.9 incidents per 100 workers. But, in 2017, that number has plummeted to only 2.8 per 100 workers.

The Importance of Hiring an Attorney

It is always a good idea to hire an attorney who is experienced with navigating the workers’ compensation claims process. A qualified attorney will understand the claims process because he or she has been through it multiple times and will know what to expect and what benefits an injured worker is able to receive.

Whenever you file a workers’ compensation claim, it is always best to have an experienced attorney on your side who will fight for your rights. If you’ve been seriously hurt on the job, reach out to the experienced attorneys at Mintz Law Firm for a free case evaluation.