Work-related vehicle accidents, claims down during recession: NCCI

Work-related vehicle accidents declined during the recent recession, and likely helped reduce the number of workers compensation claims resulting from such collisions, NCCI Holdings Inc. said Tuesday.

In a report, Boca Raton, Fla.-based NCCI said that frequency for large truck accidents declined 16% from 2007 to 2010, while passenger vehicle accidents declined 8% during that period.

The report said the recession left fewer drivers on the road due to unemployment, and resulted in fewer truck shipments as the recession limited consumer spending.

NCCI said the trend likely had a positive impact on workers comp claim trends. The share of lost-time comp claims resulting from nonfatal vehicle accidents fell from 3.5% of all traffic accidents in 2005 to 3.1% in 2010, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Vehicle accidents tend to create costlier comp claims than the average workplace accident, NCCI said. They accounted for 2% of workers comp claims from 2002 to 2008, but comprised more than 7% of losses during that time, according to the ratings and research organization.

NCCI said employers in all industries should create safe driving procedures that can help prevent comp claims from vehicle accidents.