Workers' Compensation Deadlines by State
Reporting deadlines and statutes of limitations for all 50 U.S. states — verified against official state sources. Last updated July 2, 2026.
Every state runs its own workers' compensation system, with different deadlines for reporting an injury to your employer and for filing a formal claim. Missing either deadline can permanently end your right to benefits.
Two deadlines matter:
- Reporting deadline — how long you have to notify your employer after a workplace injury or illness. In some states this is as short as a few days.
- Statute of limitations — the maximum time to formally file a workers' compensation claim, typically 1 to 3 years.
Click any state name for a detailed guide, or the source link to go straight to that state's official agency.
| State | Reporting Deadline | Statute of Limitations | Official Source | Notes | Our Attorney Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5 days | 2 years | alabama.gov | Must report injury to employer within 5 days. Statute of limitations is 2 years from date of injury to file a claim. | Coming Soon |
| Alaska | 30 days | 2 years | labor.alaska.gov | Must report injury as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Arizona | Day of injury or immediately after | 1 year | azica.gov | Must report injury to employer immediately or no later than the day of injury. Statute of limitations is 1 year. | Coming Soon |
| Arkansas | Day of injury | 2 years | arcourts.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| California | 30 days | 1 year | dir.ca.gov/dwc | Must report injury to employer within 30 days. Statute of limitations is 1 year from date of injury. | Coming Soon |
| Colorado | 4 days (for lost time) or immediate (for fatality) | 2 years | colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/dwc | For injuries resulting in lost work time, must report within 4 days. For fatality cases, must report immediately. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Connecticut | Immediate | 1 year | wcc.state.ct.us | Must report injury to employer immediately. Statute of limitations is 1 year. | Coming Soon |
| Delaware | 90 days | 2 years | industrialaffairs.delaware.gov | Must report injury to employer within 90 days. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Florida | 30 days | 2 years | myfloridacfo.com/division/wc | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident or when aware of occupational disease. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Georgia | 30 days | 1 year | sbwc.georgia.gov | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 1 year. | Coming Soon |
| Hawaii | 7 days | 2 years | labor.hawaii.gov/dcd | Must report injury to employer within 7 days (excluding Sundays and holidays) after accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Idaho | 60 days | 2 years | iic.idaho.gov | Must report injury to employer within 60 days of accident or when aware of occupational disease. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Illinois | 45 days | 3 years | www2.illinois.gov/iwcc | Must report injury to employer within 45 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 3 years from date of injury or last payment of compensation. | Coming Soon |
| Indiana | 30 days | 2 years | in.gov/wcb | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Iowa | 90 days | 2 years | dial.iowa.gov | Must report injury to employer within 90 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Kansas | 20 days | 3 years | dol.ks.gov | Must report injury to employer within 20 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 3 years. | Coming Soon |
| Kentucky | Day of injury | 2 years | labor.ky.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Louisiana | 30 days | 2 years | lawork.net/wc | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Maine | 7 days | 2 years | maine.gov/wcb | Must report injury to employer within 7 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Maryland | 10 days | 2 years | wcc.state.md.us | Must report injury to employer within 10 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Massachusetts | Day of injury or immediately after | 4 years | mass.gov/workers-compensation-for-injured-workers | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs or immediately after. Statute of limitations is 4 years. | Coming Soon |
| Michigan | 90 days | 2 years | michigan.gov/wca | Must report injury to employer within 90 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Minnesota | 14 days | 3 years | dli.mn.gov | Must report injury to employer within 14 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 3 years. | Coming Soon |
| Mississippi | 30 days | 2 years | mwcc.ms.gov | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Missouri | 30 days | 2 years | labor.mo.gov | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Montana | 30 days | 2 years | erd.dli.mt.gov | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Nebraska | Day of injury | 2 years | wcc.ne.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Nevada | 7 days | 1 year | dir.nv.gov/wcs | Must report injury to employer within 7 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 1 year. | Coming Soon |
| New Hampshire | 2 years | 3 years | dol.nh.gov | Must report injury to employer within 2 years of accident. Statute of limitations is 3 years. | Coming Soon |
| New Jersey | 14 days | 2 years | nj.gov/labor | Must report injury to employer within 14 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| New Mexico | 15 days | 3 years | workerscomp.nm.gov | Must report injury to employer within 15 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 3 years. | Coming Soon |
| New York | 30 days | 2 years | wcb.ny.gov | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| North Carolina | 30 days | 2 years | ic.nc.gov | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident or when aware of occupational disease. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| North Dakota | Day of injury | 2 years | workforcesafety.com | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Ohio | Day of injury | 2 years | info.bwc.ohio.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Oklahoma | 30 days | 2 years | ok.gov/wcc | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Oregon | 90 days | 2 years | oregon.gov/dcbs | Must report injury to employer within 90 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Pennsylvania | Day of injury | 3 years | dli.pa.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 3 years. | Coming Soon |
| Rhode Island | Day of injury | 2 years | dlt.ri.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| South Carolina | 90 days | 2 years | wcc.sc.gov | Must report injury to employer within 90 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| South Dakota | 3 days | 3 years | dlr.sd.gov/workers_compensation | Must report injury to employer within 3 working days of accident. Statute of limitations is 3 years. | Coming Soon |
| Tennessee | Day of injury | 1 year | tn.gov/workforce | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 1 year. | Coming Soon |
| Texas | 30 days | 1 year | tdi.texas.gov/wc | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 1 year. | Coming Soon |
| Utah | Day of injury | 2 years | laborcommission.utah.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Vermont | Day of injury | 6 years | labor.vermont.gov/workers-compensation | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 6 years. | Coming Soon |
| Virginia | 30 days | 2 years | workcomp.virginia.gov | Must report injury to employer within 30 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Washington | Day of injury | 2 years | lni.wa.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| West Virginia | 3 days | 2 years | workforcewv.org | Must report injury to employer within 3 days of accident. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
| Wisconsin | Day of injury | 6 years | dwd.wisconsin.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 6 years. | Coming Soon |
| Wyoming | Day of injury | 2 years | dws.wyo.gov | Must report injury to employer the same day it occurs. Statute of limitations is 2 years. | Coming Soon |
Deadlines summarized for general information as of July 2026. Special rules may apply to occupational diseases, death claims, minors, and uninsured employers. Always confirm with the official state agency or a licensed attorney.
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