Texas Mutual Sees 13% Fewer Serious Injury Claims

• Texas Mutual said this week that overall serious injury claims decreased by over 13% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
• The most significant was a 29% decline in transportation industry claims, 24% fewer mining claims, a 20% decline in construction.
• Three specific construction industries had the largest decrease in serious injuries: All other specialty trade contractors (-36%); Electrical contractors (-46%); and, Power and communication line and related structures construction (-71%).
• More claims were reported in the hospitality industry, up 41%, and in heavy manufacturing, up 14%.
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Illinois Court Decision Means Changes in Defending Occupational Disease Claims

• Employers defending occupational disease claims in Illinois can expect significant changes as a result of the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling in Martin v. Goodrich Corp., according to lawyers at the Husch Blackwell firm.
• In a recent blog post, they wrote that employees with latent occupational diseases, such as those caused by asbestos exposure, have a new path to pursue civil claims against their employers even if their workers’ compensation claims are otherwise barred by the 25-year repose period.
• “As a result, employers can anticipate a rise in civil lawsuits as employees can now bypass the restrictions imposed by the Act’s exclusivity provisions,” they wrote.
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