The Transition from Temporary Total to Permanent Partial Disability: A Longitudinal Analysis

There are more than 8 million workplace injuries per year compensated by private insurers or competitive state funds under the various workers compensation programs. Of these only 5 percent are sufficiently severe to result in permanent disability or the death of the injured workers, yet this subsample accounts for some 75 percent of all incurred claims costs. Identifying the more severe injuries is of substantial importance both in the estimating the costs of the workers compensation system, as well as in the effort to contain those costs.