In contrast, frequency declined an average of 4.7% for each of the previous five years, Boca Raton, Fla.-based NCCI said in the report, released Thursday.
Indemnity severity for 2008 rose 5.8%, an increase from an average expansion of 3.8% experienced from 2003 to 2007.
Medical severity, however, held relatively steady during accident year 2008, NCCI reported. It rose 6.7% over 2007, compared with an average increase of 6.2% during each of the previous five years.
The complete report, “Updated Analysis of Frequency and Severity of Claims Across the Country Valued as of 12/31/2008,” is available online at www.ncci.com.