You were hurt at work. The next 30 days carry the strongest evidentiary weight you’ll have on this case. Most states require written notice to your employer within 30 days, formal claim within 1-2 years, and a contemporaneous medical record flagged “work-related” from day one.
Get medical treatment — and tell them it happened at work
The medical record is the foundation of every workers' comp claim. When you walk into the ER or urgent care, say the words: "this happened at work." That puts a "work-related" flag on the chart and triggers the workers' comp billing pathway. Save every record, bill, and prescription.
Notice your employer in writing within 30 days
Most states require written notice to the employer within 30 days of injury (some shorter — TX is 30 days, CA is 30 days, NY is 30 days, TN is 30 days, FL is 30 days). Verbal notice is not enough — courts dismiss claims for lack of written notice. Email is fine. Date it.
File the formal workers' comp claim
Each state has its own form (CA DWC-1, NY C-3, TX DWC Form-041, FL First Report of Injury, etc.) and a 1-2 year deadline from injury to file. Some states require filing with the state commission, others through the employer's insurer. The wizard pulls state-specific forms and notes.
Document any retaliation
Most states prohibit retaliation for filing workers' comp — termination, demotion, schedule changes, hostile treatment. Build a contemporaneous log: dates, supervisors, witnesses. If you are terminated within 6-12 months of filing, that's prima facie retaliation in many states.
Watch out for independent medical exams (IMEs)
Insurers send injured workers to "independent" medical exams paid by the insurer. The doctor is independent in name only. Show up. Be honest. But know IME doctors typically find lower disability ratings than treating physicians. Don't skip — missing an IME is grounds for benefit termination.
Never settle without evaluating future medical
First settlement offers are typically 30-50% of trial value. The biggest variable is future medical treatment — surgeries, physical therapy, medications. Open-medical settlements (workers' comp keeps paying for related future care) are usually better than lump sums for serious injuries. Get an attorney evaluation before signing.