Workers' compensation insurers face a wave of stress claims from the World Trade Centre loss. That's the stark warning from top US lawyer Hugh O'Boyle.
O'Boyle said that over 1000 pure stress claims were being reviewed by the New York State Workers Compensation Board.
He said: "Stress claims have continued and by this point are well beyond 1000. Some 2800 fatality claims have been received and stress claims are well on the way to reaching that number."
Among several reasons for the increase in claims, the statute of limitations for filing claims is to remain in place until 2003.
The likely cost to workers' compensation insurers could run into billions of dollars. Total industry losses from September 11 are currently estimated at £25 billion.
