In California, most employees who are injured while on the job are entitled to file claims for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation offers several types of benefits, including medical expenses, temporary disability benefits, and partial or total permanent disability benefits. The total compensation amount might differ based on the location and nature of the employee’s workplace injuries.
Compensation amount affected by nature of injury
Data released by the National Safety Council (NSC) revealed differences in the total amount of compensation the average workers’ compensation claim involved from 2019 to 2020. During that year, workers who suffered amputation injuries received the highest average compensation amount of $118,837. The second-highest average compensation amount was for workers who suffered fractures, dislocations, or crush injuries at an average of $60,934.
Bodily location of injury and its affect on average compensation
The NSC data also revealed that the location of the injury on the body also affected the total average amount of workers’ compensation benefits received by employees. Workers who suffered head or central nervous system injuries recover more compensation on average than workers who suffered injuries to other areas of their bodies at an average of $93,942. Those who suffered injuries to multiple body locations recovered an average compensation amount of $62,859.
The data reveals that the value of a workers’ compensation claim can be affected by both the nature and location of the injuries suffered by employees. Those who are unable to return to their jobs might be entitled to recover temporary or permanent disability benefits in addition to medical benefits to pay for their related medical treatment costs. While workers’ compensation benefits will not replace all of the income an employee previously earned, they will replace a percentage of it and provide an important financial safety net for the injured employees and their families.
