Nine steps to protect your health, your benefits, and your deadlines — plus a free checklist you can print and keep.
Tell the provider your injury is work-related so it's documented from day one. In an emergency, get treated first.
Emergencies: go now.Notify your employer in writing as soon as you can. A late report can jeopardize your benefits.
Deadline: 30 days (LC 5400).Your employer must give you the DWC-1 within one working day of learning about your injury. Fill out the employee section and return it — this officially opens your claim.
Employer must provide it within 1 working day.The insurer must authorize up to $10,000 in medical treatment while it investigates — even before your claim is accepted.
Up to $10,000 pre-acceptance.The insurer has up to 90 days to accept or deny. If it doesn't respond in time, your claim is presumed accepted.
Insurer deadline: 90 days.Temporary disability (two-thirds of your average weekly wage — 2026 min $264.61, max $1,764.11) typically starts if you're off work more than 3 days. Check that your checks are correct.
Starts after 3 days off work.Save medical records, mileage to appointments (reimbursable at 72.5¢/mile in 2026), pay stubs, and all correspondence. Documentation wins disputes.
Mileage is reimbursable.You generally have 1 year from the injury to file a claim (LC 5405) and 5 years to reopen for new and further disability (LC 5410).
File within 1 year; reopen within 5.If your claim is denied, treatment is disputed, you receive a permanent disability rating, or you're pressured to return to work too soon — these are the moments injured workers lose money.
Free consultation, no fee unless we win.We'll email you this 9-step checklist and can remind you before your filing deadline. Free, no obligation.
The first days after a job injury decide a lot. Report it, get the DWC-1 claim form on file, get treatment, and protect your deadlines. Follow the nine steps above in order, keep records of everything, and don't let an insurer talk you out of benefits you're entitled to. If anything goes sideways — a denial, a treatment dispute, or a lowball rating — a free consultation costs you nothing and there's no fee unless we win.
Get medical care and tell the provider it's work-related, then report the injury to your employer in writing. Reporting within 30 days (Labor Code § 5400) protects your benefits.
It's the official California workers' compensation claim form. Your employer must give it to you within one working day of learning about your injury. Completing and returning it opens your claim and triggers important protections, including up to $10,000 of treatment while the claim is investigated.
Up to 90 days. If the insurer doesn't accept or deny within that window, your claim is presumed accepted under California law.
Call if your claim is denied, your treatment is disputed, you receive a permanent disability rating, or you're being pushed back to work too soon. Consultations are free and there's no fee unless you recover benefits.
