Workers’ Compensation Claims Skyrocket in North Carolina City
Gastonia may have to tap into its savings account to pay for skyrocketing workers’ compensation claims.
The Gaston Gazette reports that the city has nearly spent all of its $538,000 for claims and may end up eating through $300,000 in savings. If all the money is spent, it would mark a 64 percent increase in workers’ compensation claims over last year.
Assistant City Manager Larry Wood says the increase was a surprise, but wasn’t unusual. He says city advisers suggest there will be unforeseen spikes as part of cycles.
The compensation payments have ranged from about $200 to treat bee stings and poison ivy to about $70,000 for an employee who was in a car wreck.
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