Workers Comp Claims May Be On The Rise

For many employers, workers compensation cost are huge. Therefore, the prevention of personal injury accidents takes on more than an altruistic meaning. No employer should want to see his employees hurt or killed on the job and most of them care about their workers. But, all employers are in business to make money - if they didn't make money, they couldn't pay their workers either. To that end, controlling workers comp costs is critical.

Yesterday, Dave Seitter of the Midwest Construction Law Blog reported that "A Local Insurance Group Alerts Contractors That Workers Comp Claims Will Be On The Rise." He further states that "Matt Miller of Robert Miller Insurance Agency has indicated 'job reports released earlier this month underscore a growing challenge, risk managers face: managing workers compensation losses in losses in the midst of layoffs that can exacerbate claim frequency and severity. Employees off the job due to a legitimate injury now may be more motivated to extend the life of their workers comp benefits when their jobs may soon be eliminated or they already have been downsized, say brokers, third-party administrators and workers compensation managers. Despite economic conditions, though, most employees will resolve their claims as soon as medically possible, if employers treat them fairly and with respect.'"