Statutory Accident Insurance: Who are the providers and what do they do for you?
5 May 2025
4
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
An occupational accident or disease can affect anyone. But who is actually behind the statutory accident insurance when it provides support? This article explains who the providers of statutory accident insurance are and how they assist those affected with prevention, rehabilitation, and compensation.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The providers of statutory accident insurance are trade associations, agricultural accident insurance, and accident insurance providers of the public sector.
Your main tasks are the prevention, rehabilitation, and compensation for workplace accidents and occupational diseases.
Funding is primarily provided by employer contributions; employees are usually exempt from contributions.
Understanding the structure of accident insurance providers
The carriers of statutory accident insurance are diverse and clearly structured according to areas of responsibility. This structure ensures that every insured person has an appropriate contact person. The legal basis for this is provided by § 114 SGB VII.
Overview of Key Carrier Groups
There are essentially three main groups of carriers. These are organized as public law corporations and manage themselves. The self-governing bodies are often equally composed of representatives from employers and insured individuals.
The main groups include:
Commercial trade associations (BGen)
Agricultural accident insurance
Accident insurance carriers of the public sector
This organization ensures industry-specific and sector-specific support and prevention work. The Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (DGUV) serves as the umbrella association for commercial trade associations and the accident insurance carriers of the public sector. Knowledge of this structure is important for businesses and insured individuals to find the correct contact person if necessary.
Commercial Trade Associations: Industry-Specific Protection
The commercial employers' liability insurance associations are organized by economic sectors. There are nine such associations in Germany. Examples include the Employers' Liability Insurance Association for the Construction Industry (BG BAU) or the Administrative Employers' Liability Insurance Association (VBG). This industry-specific orientation enables the BGen to develop targeted prevention measures and effectively manage risks. Knowing the responsible BG is essential for every business, as membership is mandatory. The registration of a new company with the responsible employers' liability insurance association must be completed within one week. [] The contributions are borne by the companies and are based on the total remuneration of the insured and the respective risk category of the company. These contributions finance the entire range of services from prevention to rehabilitation and pension payments. The accident insurance thus offers comprehensive protection.
Agricultural Accident Insurance: Specialised in Green Professions
The Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (SVLFG) is responsible for businesses and employees in agriculture, forestry, and horticulture. It acts as the agricultural employers' liability insurance association in matters of accident insurance. Here too, the insurance is typically a mandatory insurance for employees, contributing family members, and the entrepreneurs themselves. The assessment of contributions in agricultural accident insurance differs from commercial liability insurance associations. It is based on agricultural-specific metrics such as the size of cultivated land or the number of animals kept. This accounts for the unique risk structures and business types in agriculture. The SVLFG provides the same core services as other accident insurance providers: prevention, rehabilitation, and compensation. An example is advising on the safe handling of machinery, which prevents thousands of accidents annually.
Public sector accident insurance providers: Protection for the state and municipalities
The public-sector accident insurance carriers cover a wide range of individuals. This includes employees of the federal government, states, and municipalities. Children in day care, school pupils, and students are also insured through them, as are volunteers or helpers in emergencies. These carriers include, for example, the accident insurance funds of the states, municipal accident insurance associations, and special fire brigade accident funds. An important carrier is also the Accident Insurance for Federal Employees and Railways (UVB). The financing of benefits for this group, especially for pupils or volunteers, is generally funded from public resources, i.e., tax revenues. Thus, a significant safety net is available to many citizens, often without the need for direct contributions. The benefits of accident insurance are also comprehensive here and aim at quick reintegration. An example is the protection of schoolchildren on their way to school, where over 100,000 accidents are reported annually.
Core Tasks and Services: What the Providers Do for You
Regardless of their specific responsibility, all providers of statutory accident insurance pursue three core tasks. These are enshrined in SGB VII. The first and most important task is the prevention of occupational accidents, occupational diseases, and work-related health hazards. This is achieved through advice, training, and the issuance of accident prevention regulations. Secondly, rehabilitation: After an insured event, the providers use all appropriate means to restore the health and performance ability of the insured individuals. This includes medical treatment, occupational reintegration measures, and social participation. An example is the financing of retraining if the old profession can no longer be practiced. Thirdly, compensation: This includes monetary benefits such as injury benefits, transitional benefits, or pensions to insured individuals or survivors. This triple strategy ensures comprehensive provision in case of need. The costs of accident insurance are borne collectively by the companies.
The specific benefits include, among others:
Initial treatment and medical care
Provision of pharmaceuticals, bandages, therapeutic and assistive devices
Services for participation in working life (e.g. retraining)
Injury benefits during incapacity for work
Transitional benefits during occupational rehabilitation measures
Pensions in case of permanent reduction of earning capacity
Benefits for those in need of care
Survivor benefits (e.g. widow's/widower's pensions)
These benefits are provided ex officio, an application is usually not necessary. Knowledge of these benefits is crucial for those affected to be able to assert their claims.
Funding of Statutory Accident Insurance: A Solidarity-Based System
The financing of statutory accident insurance is based on a pay-as-you-go system. The funds are provided by companies through contributions. Employees generally do not pay their own contributions to statutory accident insurance. The amount of contributions for companies depends on the wages of the employees and the risk classification assigned to the company. These risk classifications reflect the respective accident risk of the industry. Accident insurance providers are not allowed to make profits; the contributions cover the expenses of the previous year. For those insured by public accident insurance funds (e.g. pupils, students, volunteers), the contributions are covered by the public sector, that is, from tax revenues. This system ensures that the necessity of accident insurance for employees is met without direct financial burden. The annual total expenditure of statutory accident insurance amounts to many billions of euros.
Expert Depth: Legal Fundamentals and Current Aspects
The central legal basis for the statutory accident insurance institutions is the Seventh Book of the Social Code (SGB VII). In particular, § 114 SGB VII lists the different types of carriers in detail. The accident insurance institutions also issue their own accident prevention regulations (UVVen), which are binding for their member companies. These specify the general occupational safety obligations. Our expert tip: Keep yourself informed about the current UVVen of your responsible trade association to minimise liability risks and maximise safety in the workplace. Case law, for example by social courts up to the Federal Social Court, continuously develops accident insurance law further. An example is the recognition of new occupational diseases, which often occurs only after years of scientific investigation and legal evaluation. For farmers, compulsory insurance in agriculture is also an important topic. Detailed knowledge of the paragraphs, such as § 2 SGB VII (insurance by law) or § 8 SGB VII (accident at work), is crucial for proper handling in the event of a claim.
Your next step towards security
More useful links
Federal Office for Social Security offers a detailed overview of the providers of statutory accident insurance in Germany.
German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) is the umbrella organization of the trade associations and the accident insurance providers of public institutions, offering comprehensive information on all aspects of statutory accident insurance.
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) provides an overview of statutory accident insurance and its significance within the German social system.
German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) explains its core tasks here, from prevention to rehabilitation to compensation.
German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) informs about the wide range of rehabilitation services available to insured individuals after a work accident or occupational disease.
German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) offers deeper insights into specific topics of accident insurance in this publication.
Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides current statistics on fatal work accidents in Germany and their development.
German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV) explains the statutory foundations of accident insurance, particularly the Seventh Book of the Social Code (SGB VII).
Unfallkasse NRW provides detailed information in this PDF document about its services and offerings for insured individuals in North Rhine-Westphalia.
FAQ
Who are the providers of statutory accident insurance?
The providers are the commercial employers' liability insurance associations, the Social Insurance for Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture (as the agricultural employers' liability insurance association), and the accident insurance providers of public institutions (e.g., accident insurance funds).
What are the main tasks of the accident insurance providers?
Your main responsibilities include the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases (prevention), the restoration of health and performance (rehabilitation), and the financial compensation of insured individuals or their survivors.
Who pays the contributions to the statutory accident insurance?
The contributions are predominantly covered by the employers. For employees, the insurance is generally free of charge. For certain groups of people (e.g., students, volunteers), the public sector assumes the contributions.
What benefits does the statutory accident insurance provide in case of damage?
The services include medical treatment, medical rehabilitation, benefits for participation in working life (e.g., retraining), injury allowance, transitional allowance, pensions due to reduced earning capacity, and survivor pensions.
Are you also insured on the way to work?
Yes, accidents on the direct route to or from the workplace (commuting accidents) are also covered by statutory accident insurance.
Where can I find the legal basis for statutory accident insurance?
The most important legal basis is the Seventh Book of the Social Code (SGB VII).
