Filing a Colorado workers comp claim comes down to two deadlines and a few clear steps: report the injury to your employer, get medical care, and file with the state before the statute of limitations runs out. This guide walks through the Colorado process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Colorado sources, verified as of June 2026.
Colorado at a Glance
| Report to employer | 10 days — an injured worker must give the employer WRITTEN notice of the injury within 10 days of the occurrence (C.R.S. § 8-43-102; HB22-1112 raised the old 4-day rule to 10 days, effective August 2022; CDLE describes this as 10 working days). Late notice can reduce benefits up to one day’s compensation per day of delay, but no loss applies if the employer had actual notice or good cause is shown. |
| Deadline to file | 2 years from the date of injury (or from the last date of medical treatment/wage-loss benefits, whichever is later). A judge may extend to 3 years where there is a reasonable excuse and the employer was not prejudiced; longer windows can apply to certain latent occupational diseases. Missing the deadline can permanently bar the claim. |
| Where to file | Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC), within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). File a Worker’s Claim for Compensation, Form WC15 — mail or deliver two copies to the DWC Customer Service Unit, 707 17th St., Suite 2300, Denver, CO 80202-3404. Customer Service: 303-318-8700 / 1-888-390-7936. |
| Choose your doctor? | In most cases the employer/insurer DIRECTS care. They must provide a list of at least four medical providers (or a qualifying combination), at distinct locations without common ownership where available, and you select your authorized treating physician from that list (C.R.S. § 8-43-404). You may get a one-time change of physician if you give written notice on the director’s form within 90 days of the injury and before reaching maximum medical improvement. If the employer fails to designate a provider, the right to select can pass to the worker. Going outside the authorized provider without approval may mean those bills are not covered. |
| Benefits start | Wage-loss (temporary disability) benefits are not paid for the first 3 regular working days/shifts missed (the waiting period). Benefits begin when you are disabled beyond that period; if the disability lasts more than 2 weeks, the first 3 days are paid retroactively. Temporary Total Disability is paid at two-thirds (2/3) of the average weekly wage, generally every two weeks, up to the state maximum. |
In This Colorado Guide:
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Colorado
Filing a Colorado workers comp claim comes down to two deadlines and a few clear steps: report the injury to your employer, get medical care, and file with the state before the statute of limitations runs out. This guide walks through the Colorado process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Colorado sources, verified as of June 2026.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Colorado
First steps: (1) Report the injury to your employer in WRITING within 10 days; (2) get medical care — in an emergency go to the nearest hospital; (3) for non-emergencies, choose a provider from the employer/insurer’s designated provider list (the employer should give you this list within 7 days of notice); (4) keep copies of everything;
(5) file Form WC15 with the DWC to protect the 2-year deadline rather than relying on the employer to file.
(1) Worker gives written notice to employer within 10 days; (2) employer files a First Report of Injury with its insurer and DWC; (3) worker treats with an authorized provider from the designated list; (4) the insurer investigates and within about 20 days of notice of a lost-time claim either admits liability (files a General Admission of Liability and begins benefits) or denies (files a Notice of Contest);
(5) worker may file Form WC15 with the DWC; (6) if disputed, the worker files an Application for Hearing with the Office of Administrative Courts (OAC) and a hearing is held before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ); (7) the claim resolves by admission, settlement, or ALJ order, with appeal rights above.
Choosing a Doctor in Colorado
In most cases the employer/insurer DIRECTS care. They must provide a list of at least four medical providers (or a qualifying combination), at distinct locations without common ownership where available, and you select your authorized treating physician from that list (C.R.S. § 8-43-404).
You may get a one-time change of physician if you give written notice on the director’s form within 90 days of the injury and before reaching maximum medical improvement. If the employer fails to designate a provider, the right to select can pass to the worker. Going outside the authorized provider without approval may mean those bills are not covered.
What to Do If Your Colorado Claim Is Denied
If the insurer denies or contests the claim (Notice of Contest), the worker files an Application for Hearing with the Colorado Office of Administrative Courts (OAC) to get a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). To challenge the ALJ’s written order, file a Petition to Review, which goes to the Industrial Claim Appeals Office (ICAO / the Panel).
The Panel’s decision can then be appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals and ultimately the Colorado Supreme Court. OAC docket section: 303-764-1400. Many claimants consult a licensed Colorado workers’ comp attorney at this stage.
Appeal deadline: 20 days — a Petition to Review of an ALJ’s order must be filed within 20 days from the date the order is mailed (follow the exact filing instructions on the order or the petition may be dismissed). There is no separate short deadline to first request a hearing other than the overall 2-year statute of limitations.
Was your claim denied? A denial is not the end of the road in Colorado — many denials are overturned on appeal. A workers’ comp attorney can review your case, usually for a free consultation.
What Happens After You File in Colorado
Once your claim is filed in Colorado, the employer’s insurer reviews it and either accepts it, asks for more information, or denies it. If it is accepted, your medical treatment is covered and your wage benefits begin after the waiting period.
Keep copies of everything — the injury report, your medical records, and any letters from the insurer — because they are what protect your claim if there is ever a dispute.
Common Mistakes That Hurt a Colorado Claim
The two most common ways injured workers in Colorado lose benefits are missing a deadline and gaps in medical treatment. Report the injury in writing as soon as you can, see a doctor and follow the treatment plan, and do not assume a verbal mention to a supervisor counts as official notice. If anything about the process is unclear, your state workers’-comp board can walk you through the next step.
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Other Colorado claim rules: Colorado uses an employer/insurer-directed designated provider list with a one-time physician change allowed within 90 days (C.R.S. § 8-43-404). Reporting is by WRITTEN notice within 10 days, and late notice penalties are capped at one day’s compensation per day of delay with actual-notice/good-cause exceptions (C.R.S. § 8-43-102).
The employer/insurer’s deadline to provide a designated provider list is generally 7 days after notice; if not provided, provider-selection rights can shift to the worker. Confirm all figures and your specific deadlines with the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation and a licensed Colorado attorney.
Filing Your Colorado Workers Comp Claim the Right Way
A Colorado workers comp claim stands or falls on two things: hitting the deadlines and documenting the injury. Report the injury to your employer within the state window, file the Colorado workers comp claim with the right agency before the statute of limitations runs out, and keep seeing your doctor.
Most denied claims come down to a missed deadline or a thin medical record — get both right and your Colorado workers comp claim is on solid ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a work injury in Colorado?
In Colorado, you generally must tell your employer within 10 days — an injured worker must give the employer WRITTEN notice of the injury within 10 days of the occurrence (C.R.S. § 8-43-102; HB22-1112 raised the old 4-day rule to 10 days, effective August 2022; CDLE describes this as 10 working days).
Late notice can reduce benefits up to one day’s compensation per day of delay, but no loss applies if the employer had actual notice or good cause is shown. of the injury. Report it in writing as soon as you can — waiting can put your benefits at risk.
How long do I have to file a workers’ comp claim in Colorado?
The Colorado statute of limitations to file is 2 years from the date of injury (or from the last date of medical treatment/wage-loss benefits, whichever is later). A judge may extend to 3 years where there is a reasonable excuse and the employer was not prejudiced; longer windows can apply to certain latent occupational diseases. Missing the deadline can permanently bar the claim..
Reporting the injury and filing the claim are two separate deadlines — do not rely on one to cover the other.
What if my Colorado workers’ comp claim is denied?
If the insurer denies or contests the claim (Notice of Contest), the worker files an Application for Hearing with the Colorado Office of Administrative Courts (OAC) to get a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). To challenge the ALJ’s written order, file a Petition to Review, which goes to the Industrial Claim Appeals Office (ICAO / the Panel).
The Panel’s decision can then be appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals and ultimately the Colorado Supreme Court. OAC docket section: 303-764-1400. Many claimants consult a licensed Colorado workers’ comp attorney at this stage.
Official Colorado Sources & Resources
- Colorado Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC), a division of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE); appeals are decided by the Office of Administrative Courts (OAC) and the Industrial Claim Appeals Office (ICAO).: https://cdle.colorado.gov/dwc
- Colorado Workers’ Comp Statute: https://cdle.colorado.gov/dwc/workers-compensation-act
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Colorado workers comp claim guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Deadlines and procedures change — confirm the current rule with your state workers’-comp board or a licensed attorney.
More Colorado Workers’ Comp Guides
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Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm or insurer. Workers’ comp benefits, settlement values, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and by the specific facts of your injury and change over time, and any settlement figures here are illustrative only.
Confirm your rights and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.