Virginia Workers’ Compensation Statistics

Virginia Workers’ Compensation Statistics

In 2020, even with the pandemic drastically reducing the number of workers in the workforce, there was very little change in the number of work injuries from previous years.  The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that work injuries in 2020 remained basically unchanged from the previous year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that these occupations had the highest rate of injury:

• Nursing Assistants
• Heavy truck and tractor-trailer operator
• Laborers and stock movers
• Light truck drivers
• Construction workers
• Maintenance and repair workers
• Stockers and order fillers
• Janitors and cleaners
• Registered nurses
• Retail salespeople

Virginia was one of only a handful of states that saw work injuries below the national average.  On average, a greater number of men suffered work injuries than women.

Most Common Causes of Workplace Injuries

• Overexertion and bodily reaction to a sudden incident
• Slips, trips and falls
• Heavy equipment incidents
• Injuries caused by violence from other people or animals
• Injuries/fatalities caused by transportation accidents

Types of Benefits Available for Work Injuries In Virginia

If you’ve been injured on the job in Virginia, you may be entitled to the following benefits:

• temporary partial benefits
• temporary total benefits
• permanent partial benefits
• total and permanent disability
• lifetime coverage of medical expenses
• cost of living adjustments and travel expenses
• possible settlement of workers’ comp claim (please note that settlement is not guaranteed)
• Usually, injured workers are not entitled to pain and suffering for their Virginia workers’ comp claims

Temporary Partial Benefits

If you’re injured on the job but are able to return to light-duty or part-time work, you might find that you are losing wages because of the different or part-time job.  If you have such a wage loss, you might be entitled to temporary partial disability benefits.

These benefits are equal to 2/3 of your wage loss with a maximum amount set by Virginia law.  You may be entitled to receive benefits for up to 500 weeks from the date of the accident.

Temporary Total Benefits

If you’re injured on the job and your doctor has said you can’t do any type of work for a period of time, you may be eligible for temporary total disability benefits.

These benefits are equal to 2/3 of your average weekly wage with a maximum amount set by Virginia law.  You may be entitled to receive benefits for up to 500 weeks from the date of the accident.

Fatal Work Injuries on the Rise

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that while the number of non-fatal accidents has stayed the same or has fallen, work-related fatalities are on the rise.

The most common causes of fatal work accidents include:

• Transportation accidents — cars, buses, trains, etc.
• Violent injuries caused by other people or animals
• Slips, trips and falls
• Contact with objects or heavy equipment
• Exposure to harmful or toxic substances
• Fires and explosions

Virginia Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits

If your loved one suffered a fatal accident on the job, their injury must first be determined to be compensable under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act.  If it is determined that the death arose out of and in the course of the worker’s employment, the following people may be entitled to receive compensation and burial expenses for the deceased worker:

• the employee’s spouse
• any of the employee’s children under age 18; and,
• any children under 23 who are enrolled full-time in an accredited educational institution.