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Workers’ Compensation Statistics (Updated 2025)

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Workers’ compensation is a familiar topic on every employee’s mind. Even if you have never been the victim of a work injury, you probably have a basic understanding of the steps needed to get adequate medical attention and benefits.

That being said, for as vast as the internet is, there aren’t many good resources that have compiled facts and helpful statistics that fully illustrate the scope of workers’ compensation in the United States. Until now.

We’ve compiled an extensive list of some of the facts and statistics below, as they pertain to work injury and workers’ compensation claims in the United States and California.

If you have specific questions you’d like to get answered, speak to one of our Riverside workers’ compensation lawyers now.

Workers' Compensation Statistics

National Workers’ Compensation Statistics and Trends

Thanks to OSHA, worker injuries and illnesses are down on average, from 10.9 incidents per 100 workers in 1972 to 2.4 per 100 in 2023. Worker deaths are also down from 38 a day in 1970 to 15 a day in 2023.

5,283 workers were killed on the job in 2023, with 2.6 million more suffering nonfatal injuries and illnesses.

Keep reading to learn more details about workers’ compensation statistics.

Common Accidents & Injuries

  • Most common injury causes: According to the Travelers Injury Impact Report, which analyzed data from 2015-2024, the most common causes of workers’ compensation claims are:
    • 32% overexertion
    • 27% slips trips and falls
    • 12% being struck or colliding with an object
    • 6% caught-in or caught-between hazards
    • 5% motor vehicle accidents
  • Most common injuries in claims:
    • 38% strains/sprains
    • 13% fractures
    • 8% contusions
    • 7% inflammation
    • 7% dislocations
    • 5% cuts or puncture wounds
  • Most commonly injured body parts:
    • 13% shoulders
    • 11% lower back
    • 11% knees
    • 7% fingers
    • 6% ankles

The Cost of Work Injuries

  • In 2023, the total cost of work injuries was $176.5 billion.
  • The most costly injuries are not the most common:
    • Amputation $102,500
    • Dislocation $97,100
    • Electric Shock $55,200
    • Crushing $54,600
    • Multiple Trauma $50,000
  • States with the highest monthly premiums in 2024:
    • Alabama: $119
    • Mississippi: $95
    • Missouri: $80
    • New Mexico: $77
    • South Carolina: $74
  • Employer Spending on Benefits in June 2025 was:
    • 29.8% in the private industry
    • 38.5% in state and local government
  • First-year injuries resulted in more than 6 million days away from work, accounting for 37% of missed workdays.
  • How much each limb is worth (National Average as of 2015):
    • Arm – $169,878
    • Leg – $153,221
    • Hand – $144,930
    • Thumb – $42,432
    • Index Finger – $24,645
    • Middle Finger – $20,996
    • Foot – $91,779
    • Big Toe – $23,436

Workers’ Comp Claims

  • Despite common belief, only 1-2% of workers’ compensation claims are fraudulent.
  • Almost all states adhere to some form of the exclusive remedy provision, meaning that an additional personal injury claim cannot be filed against employers on top of a workers’ compensation claim except for specific circumstances.

Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work

Private industry, by selected event or exposure (2019)

Event or exposure Total cases
Musculoskeletal disorders 266,530
Fall on same level 153,140
Struck by object 134,620
Overexertion in lifting or lowering 86,740
Transportation incidents 49,430
Fall to lower level 48,040
Struck against object 46,250
Slips, trips without fall 38,700
Exposure to harmful substances or environments 36,840
Caught in object, equipment, material 34,020
Intentional injury by other person 20,870
Repetitive motion involving microtasks 17,160
Animal and insect related incidents 14,390
Injury by person unintentional or intent unknown 9,160
Fires, explosions 1,700

 

Top 10 Frequently Cited Safety Violations For 2024 Fiscal Year

  1. Fall Protection – General Requirements: 6,827 violations
  2. Hazard Communication: 3,121 violations
  3. Ladders: 2,789 violations
  4. Respiratory Protection: 2,698 Violations
  5. Lockout/Tagout: 2,655 violations
  6. Powered Industrial Trucks: 2,440 violations
  7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements: 2,243 violations
  8. Scaffolding: 1,959 violations
  9. Personal Protective & Lifesaving Equipment (Eye & Face Protection): 1,929 violations
  10. Machine Guarding: 1,676 violations

Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards

Source: OSHA 

California Workers’ Compensation Statistics

  • All California employers must provide workers’ compensation benefits to their employees under California Labor Code Section 3700.
  • Workers’ compensation benefits are provided by over 500,000 insured employers conducting business in California.
  • In 2023, California had 680,152 claims filed.
  • Around 72% of California workers hire workers’ compensation lawyers to handle their claims.

Types and Frequency of Claims

  • In 2023, 10% of the workers’ compensation claims in California involved the lower back.
  • Indemnity claim frequency by California region: The Los Angeles and Long Beach area had the highest claim frequency, over one quarter above average; the Peninsula/Silicon Valley region had the lowest frequency, at 28% below the statewide average claim frequency.
  • Certain injuries, like the loss of a breast due to cancer, are minimally recognized (only considered 0-5% disability). Furthermore, less than 3% of medical evaluators are women.

Costs and Payouts

  • In 2023, there was a total of $4.7 billion medical losses paid.
  • California’s average medical benefit per claim is among the highest in the country, more than 90% above the median.
  • This high cost of medical benefits is not driven by treatment costs but is driven by the length of time a claim remains open and medical benefits are paid.
  • California has the highest ratio of loss adjustment expenses (expenses associated with investigating and settling claims) to losses in the country.

Legal and Economic Impact

  • Despite workers’ compensation reform in California, the litigation rate has nearly doubled for all workers’ compensation claims and more than tripled for claims involving lost time.
  • Benefit and expense payments with an attorney:
  • Written premiums in California grow at a double-digit annual rate due to higher premium rates and growth in insured payroll.

Percent of FROIs (First Report of Injury) by County of Accident Location, 2023

Data Source

CALIFORNIA COUNTY 2023 FROI Percent FROIs Percent Employment (EDD) Rate of Injury to Employment per 100 employees
Totals 680,152 100% 100% 3.6
LOS ANGELES 170,206 25.02% 35.1% 3.6
ORANGE 55,158 8.11% 11.3% 3.6
SAN DIEGO 55,128 8.11% 11.3% 3.6
SAN BERNARDINO 41.534 6.11% 7.1% 4.3
RIVERSIDE 39,556 5.82% 8.1% 3.6
ALAMEDA 32,794 4.82% 5.8% 4.2
SANTA CLARA 27,203 4.00% 10.5% 1.9
SACRAMENTO 26,660 3.92% 5.20% 3.8
FRESNO 18,840 3.00% 3.1% 4.4
SAN JOAQUIN 15,808 2.32% 2.4% 4.9

 

California Industries With the Most Workers’ Compensation Claims

Number of Nonfatal Occupational Injuries (2023)

Private Industry Number of Injuries
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting 15,000
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 300
Construction 24,600
Manufacturing 32,900
Trade transportation and utilities 88,600
Financial activities 8,400
Professional, scientific, and technical services 10,800
Management of companies/enterprises 2,200
Administrative and support and waste management and restoration services 16,800
Educational services 3,600
Health care and social assistance 55,000
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 9,600
Accommodation and food services 40,200
Other services (excluding public administration) 9,400

Source: California Department of Industrial Relations

For help understanding your workers’ compensation case, contact our firm.