How is a workers’ compensation claim valued?

Workers’ compensation is supposed to be there to protect those who are harmed while working. In many cases, the people who get hurt will receive coverage for their medical care and even vocational training if they need to change positions. How is their claim valued, though? Are there factors that play a role in the case?

The simple answer is, “yes.” There are many factors that play a role in how a claim is valued. For example, the kind of claim it is will matter. In 2017 to 2018, for instance, the average motor-vehicle crash claim by workers was $78,466. Falls, slipping or tripping accidents were valued at an average of $47,516, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance.

Other factors play a role in workers’ compensation claims

Other factors also play a role in claim value, such as the type of injury that the worker suffered. Someone who has suffered from an amputation will have an average claim of around $109,926, according to the NCCI’s 2017 to 2018 data, whereas someone who is burned might have a claim around $48,295.

Where the person was hurt will play a role as well. Hand, finger, and wrist injuries required less in terms of compensation than a head injury, for example. Head injuries, and those involving the central nervous system, cost the most at around $92,439 per claim between 2017 and 2019.

Every claim is different, so it’s important to make the most of yours

The reality is that every claim is different, so it is important to make sure you get the most out of yours. You should have all of your medical care and medical needs covered by the workers’ compensation insurance your employer provides. That same insurance should provide you with coverage for a portion of your lost wages until you can return to work. You may also be entitled to compensation in the form of vocational training to help you start a new career. If a worker passes away, then death benefits are another topic to talk to the employer and workers’ compensation insurer about as soon as possible.