Over the last few years, officials have reported a national downward trend in the volume of workers’ compensation claims from the American workforce. However, in a new report, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) shows that California is bucking the national trend and that claims have actually increased in our state 3% from 2010 to 2014.
As Business Insurance reports, WCIRB credits a shift to more dangerous industries for the unlikely increase, including construction and manufacturing. The report also showed that roughly 50% of the claims recorded were by workers with less than two years of job experience. “Newer, more inexperienced workers are generally more likely to be injured on the job and file a workers’ compensation claim,” claims the report.
The numbers are in contrast to statistics collected by National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc., which compiles national workers’ compensation data. According to that organization, many other states have experienced an 11% decrease in the frequency of workers’ comp claims over the same five-year period.
Increase in “Cumulative Injury” Claims
The new report also attributes the overall increase to a spike in cumulative injury workers’ compensation claims, as well. According to the numbers, cumulative injury claims made up 18% of 2014’s injury claims—a significant increase over the 11% recorded in 2011.
What are cumulative injury claims? In the report’s language, these claims are defined by those that have “attorney representation” or involve “multiple body parts.” If approved on submission or appeal, many of these claims yield larger benefits for injured, many times for over a longer period of time than typical claims.
If you are a worker who has been injured on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. At the Wax & Wax, A Law Corporation, our dedicated and award-winning team of Glendale workers’ comp attorneys believes that injured workers should have the support they need following a workplace injury. We have helped countless workers fight for the benefits they deserve and move on from their accident with the relief they need.
Want to learn more about how our firm can help? Contact us today to request a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
