OSHA laws were built for a different era, but in 2023, gig workers experienced 984 death, a significant spike among delivery and truck drivers, exposing a critical flaw in U.S. labor protections. Despite the rise of gig work, the legal system has failed to catch up, leaving millions of workers vulnerable to injury without recourse. Our new study from Anidjar & Levine Injury Law reveals how OSHA regulations and workers’ compensation laws are failing to protect the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. workforce.
The growing gap between OSHA protections and gig work’s rapid expansion is alarming. These workers, who often operate under algorithm-driven work schedules, lack the safety nets that traditional employees enjoy. Gig workers are 8 times more likely to suffer serious injuries than their full-time counterparts, but despite this, they have no legal recourse for these injuries, and only 17% of platforms offer injury coverage. This leaves workers financially exposed and physically at risk, all while regulatory bodies continue to overlook the gig economy’s unique hazards.
We believe the data underscores a critical regulatory gap, which is why we wanted to bring this exclusive report to your attention.
Key Findings:
- 8x higher risk of serious injury for gig workers compared to traditional employees.
- 3x more minor injuries reported by gig workers than their traditional counterparts.
- 984 deaths in 2023 among truck/delivery drivers, the deadliest occupation in the U.S.
- Gig workers work 13+ more hours/week than traditional employees, earning ~50% less annually.
- 1 in 4 gig workers report working while injured to protect ratings or income.
- OSHA and state labor protections exclude most gig workers, leaving them without recourse for injuries.
Injury Risk vs. Labor Protections: Gig Workers vs Traditional Employees
| Metric | Gig Workers | Traditional Employees | Gap / Multiplier |
| Injury Rate (/100K) | 984 | 132 | 7.4× higher |
| Severe Injury Risk | 8× higher | Baseline | — |
| Minor Injury Rate (/100K) | 1,421 | 473 | 3× higher |
| Avg Weekly Hours | 53 | 40 | +32% |
| Median Annual Earnings | $22,400 | $45,600 | -51% |
| Legal Coverage Score | Low | High | -83 pts |
| Platforms Offering Coverage (%) | 17% | ~100% | -83 pts |
| Risk-Wage Index | 43.9 | 2.9 | 15× higher |
Injury Risk Disparity:
Gig workers, despite often performing jobs like rideshare driving and delivery, suffer injuries at rates similar to high-risk sectors like construction and warehousing. The lack of safety oversight in gig work exposes workers to the same hazards found in traditionally high-risk industries.
Lack of Coverage:
OSHA’s regulations don’t apply to gig workers in most cases, and fewer than 20% of platforms offer any form of injury coverage. This regulatory gap means that when gig workers are injured, they are often left with no legal safety nets or avenues for compensation.
Financial Strain:
With an average annual income of $22,400, gig workers lack the financial cushion to cover the $43,000 average cost of a work-related injury. Even minor injuries can lead to severe financial distress, particularly for workers who live paycheck to paycheck.
Platform Incentives:
Gig platforms often incentivize speed over safety, leading many workers to report working while injured or ignoring safety protocols to meet delivery quotas or performance ratings. This creates an environment where health and safety take a backseat to productivity and ratings.
Public Cost Burden:
Injuries sustained by gig workers are shifted to taxpayer-funded systems. With platforms largely avoiding liability, the burden falls on public emergency healthcare systems and social services, exacerbating an already strained healthcare infrastructure.
The gig economy is expanding rapidly, with 36% of the U.S. workforce now gig-based and predictions suggesting 50% by 2027. Despite this massive growth, the legal framework for protecting gig workers is woefully inadequate. The gap between legal protections for gig workers and traditional employees continues to grow, leaving millions vulnerable to workplace injuries and financial hardship.
Immediate action is required to update OSHA regulations and extend workers’ compensation coverage to gig workers. Failure to do so will result in continued harm to workers and increased public costs, as gig workers face exponentially greater risks without the support structures that traditional employees have long enjoyed.
The data is clear: if regulators do not act quickly, the risks faced by gig workers will only widen, with dangerous consequences for both workers and society. As the gig economy grows, so will the urgent need for a more comprehensive regulatory framework that ensures safety, health, and compensation for this new workforce.
