Motor Vehicle Mishaps Fuel Claims Costs

Traffic accidents that result in severe, complex injuries are one of the leading causes of large losses in workers’ compensation, NCCI’s Brian Stein said in a session at the group’s Annual Insights Symposium (AIS).
He said that a motor vehicle accident (MVA) is some 70% more costly than the average lost-time claim.
One reason for that is that an MVA is more than twice as likely as other claims to result in multiple injured body parts.
NCCI’s research revealed that while overall frequency continues to decline, MVA frequency has not shown improvement, with the exception of a decrease during the pandemic. Year-on-year changes then bounced back.
The trucking industry has seen improvements, with consecutive yearly declines in MVA frequency, which Stein said could be due, in part, to the successful implementation of technology, for example dash cameras.
A comprehensive summary of all of the workers compensation insights and analysis presented at this week’s NCCI Annual Insights Symposium is now available.
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The Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance on Thursday rejected a proposed 7.1% increase in the cost of workers’ compensation insurance in Massachusetts for the period beginning July 1, 2025.
The state’s announcement of the action said the move is expected to save Massachusetts businesses nearly $80 million.
“This decision builds on action the administration took in 2024 to decrease workers’ compensation rates by 14.6%, saving Massachusetts employers an estimated $87 million,” according to the statement.
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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is being urged by workers and members of a nonprofit organization focused on workers’ compensation reform to sign a bill allowing individuals injured at work to choose the doctor to treat them for their injuries without restrictions.
House Bill 1300 also creates a mechanism for injured workers to select their physicians and requires employers or insurers to choose a physician when an employee is unable or unwilling to do so themselves.
The Colorado Chamber of Commerce opposed the bill because members didn’t feel sponsors engaged them in the stakeholder process. They also believe it has the potential to increase employers’ costs.
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