Research and Statistics -- DLI statistics

Workers' compensation

Incidence of disputes, injury-years 1984-2004 [1]

Injury
year Claim petition
dispute rate Discontinuance
dispute rate [2] Medical requests
dispute rate [2] Rehabilitation
requests dispute
rate [2] Any
dispute [2]

1984 8.5%

1985 8.9%

1986 9.7%

1987 10.3%

1988 10.7%

1989 11.6% 7.7% 6.3% 4.7% 17.5%

1990 12.5% 8.2% 7.5% 5.3% 19.1%

1991 12.7% 8.2% 7.0% 5.2% 19.2%

1992 12.3% 8.0% 6.2% 4.5% 18.4%

1993 11.3% 6.9% 5.1% 3.5% 16.5%

1994 11.1% 6.6% 4.6% 3.2% 15.5%

1995 10.8% 6.4% 4.0% 3.3% 15.1%

1996 10.8% 6.7% 3.9% 3.5% 15.3%

1997 10.9% 6.5% 3.7% 3.6% 15.1%

1998 10.8% 6.2% 3.5% 3.8% 14.9%

1999 10.9% 6.1% 4.0% 4.3% 15.2%

2000 11.7% 6.9% 4.4% 4.6% 16.3%

2001 12.3% 6.9% 4.8% 4.8% 17.0%

2002 12.7% 7.6% 5.5% 5.0% 17.4%

2003 13.1% 7.4% 5.3% 4.9% 17.8%

2004 14.6% 7.6% 5.8% 5.0% 18.5%

1. Data is from the Department of Labor and Industry claims database. The numbers are "developed," meaning they are estimates (based on observed historical rates of claims development) of what the final numbers will be when claims are mature. Details in Appendix.

2. Not available before 1989.

Injury year	Claim petition dispute rate	Discontinuance dispute rate [2]	Medical requests dispute rate [2]	Rehabilitation requests dispute rate [2]	Any dispute [2]
1984	8.5%
1985	8.9%
1986	9.7%
1987	10.3%
1988	10.7%
1989	11.6%	7.7%	6.3%	4.7%	17.5%
1990	12.5%	8.2%	7.5%	5.3%	19.1%
1991	12.7%	8.2%	7.0%	5.2%	19.2%
1992	12.3%	8.0%	6.2%	4.5%	18.4%
1993	11.3%	6.9%	5.1%	3.5%	16.5%
1994	11.1%	6.6%	4.6%	3.2%	15.5%
1995	10.8%	6.4%	4.0%	3.3%	15.1%
1996	10.8%	6.7%	3.9%	3.5%	15.3%
1997	10.9%	6.5%	3.7%	3.6%	15.1%
1998	10.8%	6.2%	3.5%	3.8%	14.9%
1999	10.9%	6.1%	4.0%	4.3%	15.2%
2000	11.7%	6.9%	4.4%	4.6%	16.3%
2001	12.3%	6.9%	4.8%	4.8%	17.0%
2002	12.7%	7.6%	5.5%	5.0%	17.4%
2003	13.1%	7.4%	5.3%	4.9%	17.8%
2004	14.6%	7.6%	5.8%	5.0%	18.5%