Workers’ Compensation Statistics

Workers’ compensation insurance protects employees if they are injured while at work. A single workplace injury can lead to time off from work, lost wages, and expensive medical care. Workers’ compensation systems provide benefits to injured workers, allowing them to cover their costs while seeking medical care.

Workers’ compensation laws have existed since the early 1900s. Since then, 49 states have some workers’ compensation laws to protect employees.

Workers Compensation Claim Statistics

As of 2024, benefits paid to injured workers are at an all-time low [1]. This data comes from the National Academy of Social Insurance, which reports year-by-year benefits coverage [2].

However, this data may not be due to fewer employee injuries. Instead, it may be due to fewer industries offering workers’ compensation coverage or plans paying fewer benefits. The workers’ compensation system doesn’t always work as designed. If you were denied benefits following a workplace injury, it may be worth speaking with a workers’ compensation lawyer.

Workers’ Compensation in Illinois

The Workers’ Compensation Act protects Illinois workers from injuries they may sustain on the job. In 2022, Illinois employers paid $2,412,826,424 in premiums, and the U.S. spent a total of $44,921,079,501. Illinois incurred 40.3% of workers’ compensation losses, less than the nation’s average of 43.4% [3].

Illinois workers’ compensation benefits are based on the type of impairment and are calculated based on a minimum and maximum weekly benefit [4]. The injured body part is also a factor in workers’ compensation benefits in Illinois. For example, an arm injury allows compensation of up to $439,858 for up to 253 weeks, and a leg injury offers up to $403,090 for up to 215 weeks [4]. Other covered body parts include hands, fingers, feet, toes, eyes, and ears.

A Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) study found that indemnity benefits per claim in Illinois increased by 5% in 2022 [5]. However, fewer benefits were paid due to new hires and fewer claims.

Average Value of a Workers Compensation Claim

The average value of a worker’s compensation claim increased by 0.8% from 2022 to 2023 [6], driving up the cost of workers’ compensation programs.

However, despite increasing premium costs, many employers push these costs off to families and the public [1]. Workers don’t always receive the total compensation or benefits they’re entitled to, and in many cases, legal representation may be necessary.

The NSC reports that work-related injuries cost the United States a total of $167 billion in 2022, which includes $1,040 per worker, $1.4 million per death, and $40,000 per injury requiring medical treatment [7].

Costs should also include lost work days due to injury or illness. Estimates indicate that as many as 108,000,000 work days were lost in 2022 due to injury or illness. An estimated 75,000,000 of these days lost are from injuries, 33,000,000 from previous year injuries, and about 60,000,000 days will be affected in future years [7].

The Most Common Employee Injuries

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports 2,804,200 employee injuries or illnesses resulting in workers’ compensation claims in 2022, a 7.5% increase year over year [8].

OSHA reports that automotive accidents, slips, and falls are among the highest causes of worker injury [9]. This also aligns with the most common OSHA violations, including fall protection violations in the construction industry and hazard communication violations in general labor fields [9].

Illnesses account for fewer work-related accidents than physical injuries. Reports show that respiratory diseases are the most common. BLS reports approximately 45.2 cases of illness per 10,000 workers, a significant increase from 2021, which reported 37.7 per 10,000 employees [9].

Other common injuries sustained by workers included in this data are overexertion (approximately one million workers) and impact with a heavy object or equipment (over 780,000 workers). Falls, slips, trips, and exposure to harmful substances also accounted for large percentages of workplace injuries [9].

The Most Dangerous Careers

Some careers are more likely to file workers’ compensation benefits, including the following:

• Service industry: The service industry files the most workers’ compensation claims, accounting for as much as 24% of the total claims filed. The transportation industry is second, accounting for 22.4% of claims filed [6].
• Transportation or motor vehicle operators: Transportation and material moving occupations are most likely to suffer workplace injuries, leading to a loss of life [10].
• Construction workers: Construction workers suffer a high rate of on-the-job fatalities [10].
• Management positions: Management employees were at a higher risk of suffering deaths, with a reported 342 deaths in 2022 [10].

Workplace Fatalities Rates

Some work-related injuries can also lead to a loss of life. Vehicle crashes are the most common cause of workplace deaths at a rate of 38%. In 2022, there were over 2,000 fatalities related to transportation incidents [6].

Fatal work injury rates per 100,000 workers also reached a 10-year high in 2022, with the BLS reporting approximately 3.7 per 100,000 workers, up from 3.6 in 2021 and 3.4 in 2020 [8]. The BLS reported 5,486 employee fatalities in 2022, a 5.7% increase from 2021 [10].

Of these, 4,601 were wage and salary workers, and 885 were self-employed.

This translates to more worker deaths. In many states, the workers’ compensation system includes death benefits. In 2022, a worker died every 96 minutes compared to every 101 minutes in 2021 [8]. Death related to workplace violence or animal injury was the highest increase [10].

The data also shows specific age ranges and genders are more prone to work-related fatalities.

Employees between the ages of 55 and 64 were most likely to suffer injuries on the job, leading to death [8]. Those in the age range between 45 and 54 were closely behind. Men are more likely to suffer fatal occupational injuries, with a reported 5,041 male deaths in 2022 and 445 women [9].

Navigating a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Workers’ compensation benefits help workers and their dependents cover medical bills and lost wages. Legal representation is sometimes needed to access the full benefits you’re entitled to.

A workers’ compensation lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is here to help you navigate your benefits. Our legal team will assist you in filing your claim, ensuring you qualify for the benefits you need to cover your costs fully.

Call us today at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation.

Resources: [1] U.S. Department of Labor Blog, [2] National Academy of Social Insurance, [3] Illinois Department of Insurance, [4] Forbes Advisor, [5] Workers Compensation Research Institute, [6] Insurance Information Institute, [7] NSC, [8] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, [9] Occupational Safety and Health Administration, [9] BLS.GOV, [10] BLS.GOV

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.