Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) says 2020 is on track to be the worst year on record for catastrophic and serious injuries.

The Crown corporation says 18 claims have already been opened from January to July -- up from eight in the same period last year.

A total of 23 paralysis and brain injury cases were reported in all of 2019, making it the worst year on record.

Satvir Jatana, a vice president at MPI, says the high number this year comes as the overall number of crashes have dropped significantly.