The workers’ compensation industry is a data-rich field. Government boards and bureaus collect a wide-range of statistics—from broad overviews of the year to highly-detailed breakdowns of each reported case. In this blog, we’re looking at the state of Georgia statistics from the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to gather insight into the ever-changing world of workers’ comp.
Fatal Injury Rates
One measure of workers’ compensation through state industries is the fatal injury rate which represents the number of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Georgia’s 2021 fatal injury rate was 4.0, with agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting and construction as industries with the most workplace deaths. This number is down from the previous year’s 4.3 fatal injury rate.
To learn more about the fatal injury rate, we can look at the specifics of each case as provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2021, the number of fatal injuries totaled 187. This number is down from the previous year’s 193 total fatal injuries. Transportation incidents continue to be the primary cause of workplace death.
General Claim and Payment Numbers
More data is available on claims numbers and money paid. The Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation Annual Report compiles financial information for indemnity claims and medical only claims paid during the calendar year. This report is based on self-reported data provided by the Insurers, Self-Insurers, and Group Funds.
Reported during calendar year 2021:
- Total Number of Indemnity Claims: 32,137 (up 637)*
- Total Amount of Indemnity Benefits: $732,297,371 (up $25,422,420)*
- Total Amount of Medical Paid on Indemnity Claims: $700,841,698 (up $59,345,296)*
- Total Number of Medical Only Claims: 82,215 (up 6,604)*
- Total Medical Only Paid: $102,871,784 (down $19,545,446)*
- Total Number of WC-26 Filed: 894 (up 19)*
*Reported during calendar year 2020:
- Total Number of Indemnity Claims: 31,500
- Total Amount of Indemnity Benefits: $706,874,951
- Total Amount of Medical Paid on Indemnity Claims: $641,496,402
- Total Number of Medical Only Claims: 75,611
- Total Medical Only Paid: $122,417,230
- Total Number of WC-26 Filed: 875
From this data, we can see the total number of indemnity claims, amount of indemnity benefits, amount of medical paid on indemnity claims, number of medical only claims, and number of WC-26 filed rose from 2020 to 2021. The total amount of medical only paid, however, decreased from 2020 to 2021.
What does this mean for workers?
The state data for Georgia shows the number of workplace fatalities trending downward from 2020 to 2021. This is good news, especially when compared with national trends, which shows fatal work injury rates rising 8.9% from 2020 to 2021. This information also indicates workplace accidents are still all too common and can result in harrowing outcomes for the injured worker and their families.
If you are injured at work, do not hesitate to reach out to a workers’ compensation attorney. Poirier Law Firm is here to help any worker following an on-the-job injury. The practice is run by Julie Poirier, one of Georgia’s top female workers’ compensation attorneys. She is highly effective in assuring that her clients receive the benefits that they deserve, with frequent recoveries of six figures or more. Her effectiveness as a lawyer is matched by her compassion for her clients and her dedication to personal service.