How Autonomous Vehicles Could Impact Workers' Comp

From 2011 to 2016, the frequency of all workers’ comp claims decreased by 17.6 percent, but there was a five percent rise in motor vehicle accident claims, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). Motor vehicle accidents account for the majority of fatal workers’ compensation claims, and nearly one third of jobs in the United States involves driving.¹ The increased risks associated with work-related driving have led to advances in autonomous vehicles—those that can drive themselves without human intervention—to offer numerous safety benefits.

NCCI data reveals that driving-related classifications account for nearly 25 percent of workers’ comp payroll and 50 percent of workers’ comp premium. On top of that, a motor vehicle accident workers’ comp claim can cost 80 to 100 percent more than the average claim. Here are some staggering statistics on motor vehicle accident claims.

• More than 40 percent of fatal workers’ comp claims over the past five years involved a motor vehicle accident.
• A motor vehicle accident is 12 times more likely to result in a fatality than a non-motor vehicle accident.¹
• Human error causes 94 percent of serious car crashes.²

When human error is removed, and technology is introduced, accidents tend to decrease. Self-driving cars are predicted to reduce the rate of fatalities and serious injuries, which could have a major impact on workers’ compensation claims. A few benefits you can expect to see with autonomous vehicles are:¹ 

• A 25 percent decrease in the frequency of motor vehicle accident related claims could save up to $1 billion. 
• An increase in employee productivity—cars may become new workspaces.
• New transportation options for the 53 million Americans who suffer from a disability.²

While the idea of vehicles driving us instead of us driving them is intriguing, some people are hesitant to trust self-driving vehicles. In addition to consumer acceptance, cost, legislation and liability are a few of the challenges associated with the implementation of autonomous vehicles in the workplace. Class codes will need to be evaluated and workplace policies rewritten once self-driving cars become a reality.

Fully autonomous vehicles are currently in the testing stage. It is estimated that they will be available in 2025—most likely beginning with robotaxis and driverless delivery vehicles—and expanding from there.² With this advanced technology, not only could workers be safer on the road, but productivity and efficiency will increase with the responsibility of driving no longer being a part of their daily activities. 

To learn more about autonomous vehicles, click here.