Filing an Arizona 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 Arizona process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Arizona sources, verified as of October 2026.
Arizona at a Glance
| Report to employer | No fixed number of days. A.R.S. § 23-908 requires the injured worker to report the injury to the employer “forthwith,” meaning as soon as reasonably possible. Your state generally expects prompt notice, so report right away and in writing if you can. |
| Deadline to file | 1 year. A written claim must be filed with the Industrial Commission of Arizona within 1 year after the injury occurred or the right to compensation accrued (A.R.S. § 23-1061(A)). Narrow exceptions apply if the worker justifiably relied on a material misrepresentation by the commission, employer or insurer, or was legally incompetent or incapacitated during that year. |
| Where to file | The Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) Claims Division. The worker files the “Worker’s Report of Injury” (ICA Form 407, rev. 8/2024) with the ICA. A doctor’s report or a signed letter to the ICA may also start a claim. Reporting to the employer does not by itself count as filing the claim. |
| Choose your doctor? | For most employers that carry insurance, the worker may generally choose their own treating doctor. If the employer sends the worker to a designated doctor first, the worker may usually pick their own physician after that first visit. The exception is a self-insured employer that directs medical care under A.R.S. § 23-1070 through a plan registered with the ICA. In that case the worker generally must use the employer’s directed-care program, and changes of doctor are approved only in limited cases. Confirm your employer’s coverage type with the ICA. |
| Benefits start | Arizona has a 7-day waiting period. Wage-loss compensation is not paid for the first 7 days of disability and starts on the 8th day. If the disability lasts more than 14 days, the first 7 days are paid retroactively from the date of injury. On an accepted claim, the first installment is generally due no later than the 21st day after the carrier is notified. If the carrier denies late and temporary disability is indicated, penalty payments may apply. |
In This Arizona Guide:
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Arizona
Filing an Arizona 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 Arizona process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Arizona sources, verified as of October 2026.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Arizona
First steps: Get medical care first, and in an emergency go to the nearest emergency room. Tell your employer about the injury right away, preferably in writing. Tell the treating doctor the injury happened at work. Send the Worker’s Report of Injury (Form 407) to the ICA well within the 1-year limit.
Keep copies of every form, medical record and letter, and write down the date, time, place, witnesses and how the injury happened.
(1) Worker reports the injury to the employer forthwith. (2) Within 10 days after getting notice, the employer must report the injury to its insurance carrier and to the ICA. (3) The worker or doctor files the claim with the ICA, using Form 407 for the worker. (4) The carrier must accept or deny the claim within 21 days of notification by issuing a written Notice of Claim Status.
(5) If the claim is accepted, medical benefits and any temporary disability benefits are paid. (6) When the worker’s condition becomes medically stationary, the carrier closes the claim and issues notices on any permanent impairment and loss of earning capacity. Each of those notices can be protested within 90 days.
Choosing a Doctor in Arizona
For most employers that carry insurance, the worker may generally choose their own treating doctor. If the employer sends the worker to a designated doctor first, the worker may usually pick their own physician after that first visit. The exception is a self-insured employer that directs medical care under A.R.S. § 23-1070 through a plan registered with the ICA.
In that case the worker generally must use the employer’s directed-care program, and changes of doctor are approved only in limited cases. Confirm your employer’s coverage type with the ICA.
What to Do If Your Arizona Claim Is Denied
File a “Request for Hearing” with the Industrial Commission of Arizona, either on the ICA form or by signed letter. The worker then receives a Notice of Hearing with the date, time, place and the name of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The ALJ takes evidence and testimony and issues an award. Either party may then file a Request for Review with the ALJ.
After the decision on review, a further appeal goes to the Arizona Court of Appeals by special action. Many claimants consult a licensed Arizona workers’ comp attorney at this stage. Confirm the steps with the ICA.
Was your claim denied? A denial is not the end of the road in Arizona — 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 Arizona
Once your claim is filed in Arizona, 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 an Arizona Claim
The two most common ways injured workers in Arizona 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.
Other Arizona claim rules: (1) Arizona strictly applies the 90-day protest period to every Notice of Claim Status, including denials, claim closures, permanent impairment findings and benefit amounts, not only to the first denial. (2) The insurer, not the worker, must issue a written Notice of Claim Status within 21 days.
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(3) After a claim closes, a worker with a new, additional or previously undiscovered condition related to the original injury may file a Petition to Reopen with the ICA under A.R.S. § 23-1061(H). (4) Self-insured employers with an ICA-registered directed-care plan may control the choice of doctor.
Filing Your Arizona Workers Comp Claim the Right Way
An Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona workers comp claim is on solid ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a work injury in Arizona?
In Arizona, you generally must tell your employer within No fixed number of days. A.R.S. § 23-908 requires the injured worker to report the injury to the employer “forthwith,” meaning as soon as reasonably possible. Your state generally expects prompt notice, so report right away and in writing if you can. 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 Arizona?
The Arizona statute of limitations to file is 1 year. A written claim must be filed with the Industrial Commission of Arizona within 1 year after the injury occurred or the right to compensation accrued (A.R.S. § 23-1061(A)). Narrow exceptions apply if the worker justifiably relied on a material misrepresentation by the commission, employer or insurer, or was legally incompetent or incapacitated during that year..
Reporting the injury and filing the claim are two separate deadlines — do not rely on one to cover the other.
What if my Arizona workers’ comp claim is denied?
File a “Request for Hearing” with the Industrial Commission of Arizona, either on the ICA form or by signed letter. The worker then receives a Notice of Hearing with the date, time, place and the name of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The ALJ takes evidence and testimony and issues an award. Either party may then file a Request for Review with the ALJ.
After the decision on review, a further appeal goes to the Arizona Court of Appeals by special action. Many claimants consult a licensed Arizona workers’ comp attorney at this stage. Confirm the steps with the ICA.
Official Arizona Sources & Resources
- Arizona Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA), Claims Division and Administrative Law Judge Division: https://www.azica.gov
- Arizona Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/23/01061.htm
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Arizona workers comp claim guide was last verified against official sources in October 2026. Deadlines and procedures change — confirm the current rule with your state workers’-comp board or a licensed attorney.
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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.