2010 Overall Trends
* Claim frequency for lost-time claims in Accident Year (AY) 2010 was 3% higher than in AY 2009, according to preliminary estimates. Prior to this year's uptick, claim frequency had been declining at an average rate of 4.3% per year since 1990, with the only other increases occurring in 1994 and 1997.
* A number of recession-related factors may have put upward pressure on the AY 2010 frequency measure, including an increase in new hires as the recovery began to take hold and a possible influx of small lost-time claims that may have been medical-only claims in previous years.
* For indemnity and medical combined, the change in average cost per lost-time claim was 0% for 2010.