Filing an Alabama 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 Alabama process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Alabama sources, verified as of October 2026.
Alabama at a Glance
| Report to employer | 5 days. Ala. Code § 25-5-78 asks the injured worker to notify the employer within 5 days of the accident, or within 5 days of discovering an occupational disease. If the worker hasn’t given notice, they generally can’t get compensation for the time before notice is given, unless the employer already knew about the injury. Written notice must be given within 90 days of the injury. Without written notice in 90 days, the worker may lose benefits. Many claimants give written notice right away to be safe. |
| Deadline to file | 2 years. Ala. Code § 25-5-80 bars a claim unless a verified complaint is filed in circuit court within 2 years of the accident. If compensation has been paid, the 2 years runs from the date of the last compensation payment. |
| Where to file | Alabama does not use an administrative claim form filed by the worker. The worker makes a claim by notifying the employer of the accident and injury and asking the employer for benefits. The employer, insurance carrier or third-party administrator files the claim forms, starting with the Employer’s First Report of Injury (Form WC-1), with the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Alabama Department of Workforce (formerly the Alabama Department of Labor). If the claim is disputed and no settlement is reached, the worker files a verified complaint in the Alabama Circuit Court of the proper county. |
| Choose your doctor? | The employer directs medical care and chooses the first treating doctor (Ala. Code § 25-5-77). If you are unhappy with that doctor and need more treatment, you can tell the employer. You are then entitled to choose a second doctor from a list of 4 doctors the employer selects. You get only one list of 4. The doctors on the list cannot all be from the same firm, partnership or professional corporation. If 4 aren’t available, the employer lists as many as are available. If surgery is recommended, you may be able to ask for a separate list of surgeons. Generally, the employer does not have to pay for treatment from an unauthorized doctor. |
| Benefits start | There is a 3-day waiting period (Ala. Code § 25-5-59). Wage benefits start on the 4th day of disability. If the disability lasts 21 days or more, pay for the first 3 days is added to the first installment due after day 21. If an installment is not paid within 30 days of its due date without good cause, a 15 percent penalty is added to it. |
In This Alabama Guide:
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Alabama
Filing an Alabama 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 Alabama process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Alabama sources, verified as of October 2026.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Alabama
First steps: (1) Get medical care right away, and get emergency care first if you need it. (2) Tell your employer within 5 days, and give written notice within 90 days at the latest. Keep a copy. (3) Ask the employer which doctor it has authorized for treatment. (4) Write down the date, time, place, witnesses and how the injury happened. (5) Keep all medical records, bills and pay records.
(6) If you have questions, call the Workers’ Compensation Division ombudsman at 1-800-528-5166. Confirm the details with the Division and a licensed attorney.
(1) The worker reports the injury to the employer (within 5 days; in writing within 90 days). (2) The employer refers the worker to an authorized doctor. (3) The employer, insurer or third-party administrator files the Employer’s First Report of Injury (Form WC-1) with the Workers’ Compensation Division, generally within 15 days. (4) The insurer or employer investigates, then accepts or denies the claim.
(5) If the claim is accepted, medical bills are paid and weekly wage benefits begin after the waiting period. (6) If there is a dispute, the parties can use the Division’s free ombudsman mediation. (7) If there is no settlement, either side can file suit in circuit court within the 2-year limit. (8) Settlements generally must be approved by a circuit court.
Choosing a Doctor in Alabama
The employer directs medical care and chooses the first treating doctor (Ala. Code § 25-5-77). If you are unhappy with that doctor and need more treatment, you can tell the employer. You are then entitled to choose a second doctor from a list of 4 doctors the employer selects. You get only one list of 4.
The doctors on the list cannot all be from the same firm, partnership or professional corporation. If 4 aren’t available, the employer lists as many as are available. If surgery is recommended, you may be able to ask for a separate list of surgeons. Generally, the employer does not have to pay for treatment from an unauthorized doctor.
What to Do If Your Alabama Claim Is Denied
The worker can call the Workers’ Compensation Division (1-800-528-5166) and ask to speak with an examiner or an ombudsman. The ombudsman program offers free mediation to try to settle the dispute before court. If the dispute isn’t settled, the worker can file a verified complaint in the Alabama Circuit Court of the proper county within the 2-year limit (Ala. Code § 25-5-80 and § 25-5-81).
A circuit judge decides the case without a jury. Either party can appeal the circuit court judgment to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. Confirm your options with the Division and a licensed attorney.
Appeal deadline: There is no separate administrative appeal deadline after a denial. The 2-year limit to file a circuit court complaint is the controlling deadline. Any aggrieved party may appeal a circuit court order or judgment to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals within 42 days (Ala. Code § 25-5-81(e)).
Was your claim denied? A denial is not the end of the road in Alabama — 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 Alabama
Once your claim is filed in Alabama, 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.
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Common Mistakes That Hurt an Alabama Claim
The two most common ways injured workers in Alabama 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 Alabama claim rules: Alabama uses its courts for disputed claims: there is no administrative hearing board, and disputes go to circuit court. The worker gets only one list of 4 doctors (Ala. Code § 25-5-77). The Division’s ombudsman program offers free mediation (1-800-528-5166). The ombudsman can also review disputes over medical services.
Filing Your Alabama Workers Comp Claim the Right Way
An Alabama 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 Alabama 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 Alabama workers comp claim is on solid ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a work injury in Alabama?
In Alabama, you generally must tell your employer within 5 days. Ala. Code § 25-5-78 asks the injured worker to notify the employer within 5 days of the accident, or within 5 days of discovering an occupational disease. If the worker hasn’t given notice, they generally can’t get compensation for the time before notice is given, unless the employer already knew about the injury.
Written notice must be given within 90 days of the injury. Without written notice in 90 days, the worker may lose benefits. Many claimants give written notice right away to be safe. 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 Alabama?
The Alabama statute of limitations to file is 2 years. Ala. Code § 25-5-80 bars a claim unless a verified complaint is filed in circuit court within 2 years of the accident. If compensation has been paid, the 2 years runs from the date of the last compensation payment.. Reporting the injury and filing the claim are two separate deadlines — do not rely on one to cover the other.
What if my Alabama workers’ comp claim is denied?
The worker can call the Workers’ Compensation Division (1-800-528-5166) and ask to speak with an examiner or an ombudsman. The ombudsman program offers free mediation to try to settle the dispute before court. If the dispute isn’t settled, the worker can file a verified complaint in the Alabama Circuit Court of the proper county within the 2-year limit (Ala. Code § 25-5-80 and § 25-5-81).
A circuit judge decides the case without a jury. Either party can appeal the circuit court judgment to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. Confirm your options with the Division and a licensed attorney.
Official Alabama Sources & Resources
- Alabama Alabama Department of Workforce, Workers’ Compensation Division (formerly the Alabama Department of Labor, Workers’ Compensation Division): https://workforce.alabama.gov/employers/workers-compensation/
- Alabama Workers’ Comp Statute: https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-25/chapter-5/article-3/section-25-5-81/
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Alabama 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.