Injury Reporting and Work Comp Deadline Requirements by State

Written by: Ian Kea

Injury Reporting and Workers’ Compensation Deadline Requirements by State

Injury Reporting and WC Deadline Requirements by State - Map Key

For workers’ compensation, reporting and filing deadlines play a significant role in eligibility. States vary greatly on deadlines, with entities such as Wyoming requiring three days to report an injury, whereas Utah allows for 180 days. Several states don’t provide an official injury report deadline, as seen in Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, where statutes indicate reporting injuries “as soon as possible.”

Filing deadlines for workers’ compensation average around 2 years. Nevertheless, each state is unique in its approach, with Nevada only permitting 90 days compared to Idaho, which has no set deadline to file for workers’ compensation. Certain states also make adjustments for reporting occupational illnesses, which can be more complex with deadlines as it can be harder to detect symptoms or receive a proper and timely diagnosis. To accommodate occupational illnesses, states such as Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin provide extended deadlines.

Changes to injury reporting and filing deadlines are not common. However, Colorado’s legislature recently enacted legislation to extend their injury reporting deadline. Previously Coloradans were given just four days to report an injury, a number lower than average compared to most states. With the passage of H1112, those injured on the job now have ten days to report an injury and 30 days to report an occupational illness upon “manifestation of the disease,” meaning when the employee first becomes aware of the illness or disease from a doctor’s diagnosis. In addition, reporting requirements and deadlines were mostly loosened in the 20 states that passed Covid presumptions since 2020. Although, as just a few states have Covid presumptions still in place, altering reporting and deadline conditions is primarily temporary for Covid claims.

For injured workers, time is of the essence. If an injury occurs, the best bet is to file promptly and without delay to assure compliance with your state’s respective deadlines and better guarantee the chances of receiving benefits.

U.S. States

Alabama: 5 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Alaska: 30 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Arizona: “as early as possible to report injury.” 1-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Arkansas: “as early as possible to report injury.” 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
California: 30 days to report injury. 1-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Colorado: 10 days to report injury. 30 days to report occupational disease upon manifestation of the disease. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Connecticut: “as early as possible to report injury.” 1-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury. 3- year deadline from first symptom for occupational disease.
Delaware: “as early as possible to report injury.” 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury. 1- year deadline after diagnosis of occupational disease.
Florida: 30 days to report injury. 2-years to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Georgia: 30 days to report injury. 1 year to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Hawaii: “as early as possible to report injury.” 5-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury. 2- year deadline after first symptom of occupational disease.
Idaho: 60 days to report injury. No deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Illinois: 45 days to report injury. 3-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Indiana: 30 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Iowa: 90 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Kansas: 20 days to report injury. 3-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Kentucky: “as early as possible to report injury.” 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Louisiana: 30 days to report injury. 1-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Maine: 60 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Maryland: 10 days to report injury. 60 days after injury to file for workers’ compensation claim from date of injury. 2 years to file for workers’ compensation claim after disablement or death.
Massachusetts: “as early as possible to report injury.” 4-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Michigan: 90 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Minnesota: 180 days to report injury. 3 years to file for workers’ compensation after employer submits report to Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). Filing for workers’ compensation must not exceed 6 years from date of injury.
Mississippi: 30 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Missouri: 30 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury. 3-years to file for workers’ compensation if employer does not file a timely report with Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Montana: 30 days to report injury. 1-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Nebraska: “as early as possible to report injury.” 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Nevada: 7 days to report injury. 90 days deadline from injury or discovery of occupational illness to file for workers’ compensation.
New Hampshire: 2 years to report injury. 3-year deadline to file for worker’s compensation from date of injury.
New Jersey: 14 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
New Mexico: 15 days to report injury. 1-year deadline to file following a claim denial.
New York: 30 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
North Carolina: 30 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
North Dakota: 7 days to report injury. 1-year deadline from date of injury or discovery of illness.
Ohio: “as early as possible to report injury.” 1-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Oklahoma: 30 days to report injury. 1-year deadline to file for workers’’ compensation from date of injury. 2-year deadline from last exposure for occupational illness.
Oregon: “as early as possible to report injury.” 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Pennsylvania: 21 days to report injury. 3-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury or 300 weeks from last exposure for occupational illness.
Rhode Island: 30 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
South Carolina: 90 days to report injury. 2- year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury or discovery of occupational illness.
South Dakota: 3 business days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for worker’s compensation from date of injury.
Tennessee: 15 days to report injury. 1-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Texas: 30 days to report injury. 1-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury or discovery of occupational illness.
Utah: 180 days to report injury. 1-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Vermont: “as early as possible to report injury.” 6 months to file for worker’s compensation from date of injury.
Virginia: 30 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.
Washington: “as early as possible to report injury.” 1 year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury. 2-year from diagnosis deadline to file for worker’s compensation for occupational illness.
West Virginia: “as early as possible to report injury.” 6-month deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury. 3-year deadline since discovery or last exposure for occupational illness.
Wisconsin: 30 days to report injury. 2-year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury. 6-year deadline to file for “traumatic” injuries and 12 years for occupational illnesses.
Wyoming: 72 hours to report injury to employer accompanied with 10-day deadline to file Wyoming Injury Report. 1 year deadline to file for workers’ compensation from date of injury.