Every day across Virginia, hardworking men and women report to construction sites, warehouses, manufacturing plants, hospitals, schools, and job sites expecting to earn a living—not suffer an injury.
Yet according to the latest data from the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (VWCC), thousands of workers continue to experience job-related injuries every year. By understanding who gets hurt, how injuries happen, and which industries see the most claims, workers can better protect themselves and understand their rights if an accident occurs.
What Are The Most Common Workplace Injuries in Virginia?
The Virginia Workers’ Comp Commission’s latest injury data shows that strains and tears remain the most common workplace injury, accounting for nearly one-quarter (24%) of all reported claims. Other frequently reported injuries include:
- Other injury types – 25%
- Strains and tears – 24%
- Struck by object incidents – 20%
- Falls, slips, and trips – 19%
- Cuts, scrapes, and puncture wounds – 12%
These numbers reflect what many blue-collar workers already know: physically demanding jobs often place tremendous stress on the body. Lifting heavy materials, repetitive motion, awkward body positioning, and unexpected hazards can all lead to serious injuries.
Leg Injuries Are More Common Than Any Other Body Part
The most frequently injured area of the body was the lower extremities, representing 36% of reported injuries. This category includes injuries to the knees, legs, ankles, and feet.
Other commonly injured body regions included:
- Upper extremities (arms, shoulders, hands) – 21%
- Trunk and back injuries – 17%
- Multiple body parts – 13%
- Head injuries – 12%
- Neck injuries – 1%
For workers in construction, transportation, manufacturing, and warehousing, these findings make sense. Many jobs require long hours on your feet, climbing, carrying materials, operating machinery, or working on uneven surfaces—all activities that place stress on the lower body.
Injury Types Change as Workers Age
The Commission’s data reveals an interesting trend: the most common injury type varies by age group.
Workers Under 18: Lacerations were the most common injury, accounting for 19% of injuries in this age group.
Workers Ages 18-30: Contusions, or bruising injuries, were most common at 18%.
Workers Ages 31-55: Strains and tears became the leading injury type, accounting for 21% to 22% of injuries.
Workers Ages 56 and Older: Contusions again became the most common injury category, making up between 24% and 27% of injuries.
These trends highlight how workplace risks evolve throughout a worker’s career. Younger workers may be more likely to experience cuts and impact injuries, while workers in their prime earning years often experience muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries caused by years of physical labor.
Which Virginia Industries Have the Most Workplace Injuries?
Not surprisingly, industries that employ large numbers of physically active workers account for many of Virginia’s workers’ compensation claims.
The ten industries with the highest number of reported claims were:
- Health Care and Social Assistance – 20,313 claims
- Public Administration – 18,606 claims
- Retail Trade – 16,833 claims
- Educational Services – 10,591 claims
- Manufacturing – 7,852 claims
- Accommodation and Food Services – 7,211 claims
- Transportation and Warehousing – 6,706 claims
- Construction – 5,791 claims
- Administrative, Waste Management and Remediation Services – 4,527 claims
- Wholesale Trade – 4,186 claims
Many of these industries depend on workers performing physically demanding tasks, including lifting, loading, transporting materials, caring for patients, operating equipment, and standing for extended periods.
Which Industry Has Injuries That Cost More Than Any Other Industry?
While healthcare and public administration generated the highest number of claims, construction had the highest average cost per workers’ compensation claim at $8,409.
Other industries with high average claim costs included:
- Management of Companies and Enterprises – $5,427
- Transportation and Warehousing – $5,372
- Utilities – $4,646
- Manufacturing – $3,671
Higher claim costs often reflect the severity of injuries. Falls from heights, heavy equipment accidents, crushing injuries, and serious orthopedic injuries can require extensive medical treatment and lengthy periods away from work.
Which On-The-Job Injuries Are The Most Expensive?
The data also highlights the significant financial impact of certain injury types.
Average costs per claim include:
- Fractures – $12,905
- Strains and tears – $4,012
- Inflammation injuries – $2,568
- Multiple physical injuries – $1,471
- Contusions – $1,415
- Other injuries – $1,271
Fractures stand out as the most expensive injury category by a wide margin, demonstrating how a seemingly routine workplace accident can quickly become a major financial and medical event.
What These Numbers Mean for Virginia Workers
Behind every statistic is a real person whose life changed because of a workplace injury.
The latest VA Workers’ Comp Commission data shows that workplace injuries continue to affect workers across virtually every industry in Virginia. Whether you work in construction, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, warehousing, education, or public service, understanding common injury risks can help you stay alert and protect yourself on the job.
If you are injured at work, it is important to report the injury promptly, seek appropriate medical treatment, and understand your rights under Virginia’s workers’ compensation system. Benefits may be available to help cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other injury-related costs.
HammondTownsend Helps Injured Virginia Workers
At HammondTownsend, our practice is exclusively devoted to representing injured workers throughout Virginia. We understand the challenges that come after a workplace injury and help workers pursue the benefits they deserve under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act.
If you’ve been injured on the job and have questions about your rights, our team is here to help.