Workers compensation laws by state decide who pays when a worker gets hurt on the job, how fast the injury must be reported, and where the rules are written down. This hub collects all 50 states in one place, with the name of each state’s act, its legal citation, and the deadline for telling the employer about an injury.
The answer changes from state to state because each legislature wrote its own statute, and each one set its own notice rules and exceptions.
Every row on this page comes from that state’s own verified guide on this site, so you can click through to the full details whenever you need them. If you are an injured worker or an employer trying to get workers compensation laws by state right, start with your state’s row and then read its full page.
Click any state below for its full guide, with the statute citation, the agency contact and the figures behind each row.
Quick Facts — Workers compensation laws by state (2026)
- The shortest deadline is in South Dakota. Workers there must give written notice to the employer within 3 business days of the injury (SDCL 62-7-10). Colorado is close behind at 4 working days, and Alabama asks for written notice within 5 days.
- The longest window is in New Hampshire. A worker has up to 2 years from the injury, or from the date they know or should reasonably know about it. Delaware, Iowa, Michigan, Oregon and South Carolina each allow up to 90 days.
- 30 days is the most common rule. More than a dozen states use a 30-day notice deadline, including Alaska, California, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
- Ohio and Washington are the outliers. Neither sets a fixed number of days for a worker to tell the employer. That does not mean waiting is safe, and the state guides explain what happens in practice.
- Your facts can change the deadline. In Delaware, Iowa and New Mexico, the clock works differently if the employer already knew about the injury. In Michigan and Wisconsin, it can run from when you knew or should have known. In Maine, the 60-day rule applies to injuries on or after January 1, 2020.
- One rule holds in every state. Across all workers compensation laws by state, the injured worker has to tell the employer about the injury, and telling them early always protects the claim.
- Free help is on every state page. Each guide on this site lists the state agency that handles workers’ compensation and how to contact it, at no cost to you.
Workers compensation laws by state — All 50 States Compared
The workers compensation laws by state table below shows the two figures that frame the question in every state. Here is what each column means:
Where the Act Lives = the code citation for that state’s workers’ compensation act, from the state’s act guide, which links the official text.
Report an Injury By = the deadline for telling the employer about an injury under that act. Miss it and most states can deny the claim outright.
| State | Where the Act Lives | Report an Injury By |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Code of Alabama 1975, Title 25, Chapter 5, §25-5-1 et seq. | Written notice to the employer within 5 days of the accident; no compensation is payable… |
| Alaska | Alaska Statutes Title 23, Chapter 30 (AS 23.30) | 30 days after the injury, written notice to the employer — AS 23.30.100 |
| Arizona | Arizona Revised Statutes Title 23, Chapter 6 (A.R.S. §23-901 et seq.) | A.R.S. §23-908. The injured employee “shall forthwith report the accident and the injury”… |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Code Annotated Title 11, Chapter 9 (§ 11-9-101 through §… | § 11-9-701 — the worker should give the employer notice of the injury right away. The… |
| California | California Labor Code Division 4 (Sections 3200 to 6208), with… | 30 days after the injury to notify the employer (Labor Code §5400). Late notice may be… |
| Colorado | Colorado Revised Statutes Title 8, Articles 40 to 47 (C.R.S. §§… | Within 4 working days of the injury, written notice to the employer, under C.R.S. §… |
| Connecticut | Connecticut General Statutes Title 31, Chapter 568, §§ 31-275 to… | § 31-294b. The worker must report the injury to the employer immediately or as soon as… |
| Delaware | Delaware Code Title 19, Chapter 23 (19 Del. C. § 2301 et seq.) | 90 days after the accident, unless the employer already knew of the injury. Until notice… |
| Florida | Florida Statutes Chapter 440 (Title XXXI, Labor), ss. 440.01–440.60 | Generally 30 days after the injury, or 30 days after the first manifestation for… |
| Georgia | O.C.G.A. Title 34, Chapter 9 (§§ 34-9-1 through 34-9-432) | 30 days from the accident to notify the employer (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-80); the Board urges… |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Title 21, Chapter 386 | Written notice to the employer “as soon as practicable” after the injury — HRS §386-81.… |
| Idaho | Idaho Code Title 72 (“Worker’s Compensation and Related Laws —… | Notice of the accident to the employer as soon as practicable but no later than 60 days… |
| Illinois | 820 ILCS 305 (Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 820 Employment, Act… | Notice to the employer as soon as practicable, and no later than 45 days after the… |
| Indiana | Indiana Code Title 22, Article 3 (IC 22-3-1-1 et seq.). The injury… | As soon as practicable, by written notice to the employer. If notice is not given within… |
| Iowa | Iowa Code Chapter 85 (with Chapters 85A, 85B, 86 and 87) | 90 days from the date of injury, unless the employer had actual knowledge within that… |
| Kansas | Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) Chapter 44, Article 5 (K.S.A.… | K.S.A. 44-520 — the worker must give the employer notice by the earliest of: 20 calendar… |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) Chapter 342 | Notice to the employer “as soon as practicable” after the accident — KRS 342.185(1). For… |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 23, Chapter 10 (La. R.S. 23:1020.1… | 30 days after the injury or death, by written notice to the employer — La. R.S. 23:1301 |
| Maine | Maine Revised Statutes Title 39-A (Workers’ Compensation), Part 1… | 60 days after the date of injury for injuries on or after January 1, 2020 (30 days for… |
| Maryland | Annotated Code of Maryland, Labor and Employment Article, Title 9, §§… | Notice to the employer within 10 days after the accident, under § 9-704. The Commission… |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title XXI, Chapter 152 (M.G.L. c.… | M.G.L. c. 152 §41 — the worker must give the employer notice “as soon as practicable”… |
| Michigan | Michigan Compiled Laws Chapter 418, MCL 418.101 to 418.941 (Act 317… | 90 days after the injury, or 90 days after the employee knew or should have known of it… |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Statutes Chapter 176 (Minn. Stat. §§ 176.001–176.86) | Minn. Stat. § 176.141 — the worker should give written notice within 14 days (no benefits… |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Code of 1972, Title 71 (Labor and Industry), Chapter 3… | 30 days after the injury, by actual notice to the employer or its officer, manager or… |
| Missouri | Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) Chapter 287, Title XVIII (Labor… | Written notice of the time, place and nature of the injury is due to the employer within… |
| Montana | Montana Code Annotated Title 39, Chapter 71 (§ 39-71-101 et seq.) | 30 days after the accident. Notice of the time, place and nature of the injury must go to… |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 48, Article 1, §§ 48-101 to 48-1,117 | § 48-133 — written notice of the injury, giving the time, place and cause, must go to the… |
| Nevada | Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Title 53, Chapters 616A to 616D.… | Written notice to the employer (Form C-1) as soon as practicable, but no later than 7… |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. (RSA) Title XXIII (Labor), Chapter 281-A | Within 2 years of the injury, or of the date the worker knows or should reasonably know… |
| New Jersey | N.J.S.A. 34:15-1 et seq. (New Jersey Statutes Title 34, Chapter 15) | N.J.S.A. 34:15-17 — notify the employer within 14 days. A notice defect doesn’t bar a… |
| New Mexico | NMSA 1978, Chapter 52, Article 1 (Sections 52-1-1 through 52-1-70)… | Written notice to the employer within 15 days, unless the employer already had actual… |
| New York | New York Consolidated Laws, Chapter 67 — Workers’ Compensation Law… | Written notice to the employer within 30 days after the accident — WCL §18 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 97, Article 1 (N.C. Gen.… | Written notice to the employer within 30 days of the accident, under N.C. Gen. Stat. §… |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Century Code (N.D.C.C.) Title 65, Chapters 65-01 through… | Within 7 days of the accident, or within 7 days after the general nature of the injury… |
| Ohio | Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4123 (Title 41, Labor and Industry).… | The Ohio code sets no fixed number of days for a worker to tell the employer. In practice… |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Statutes Title 85A (85A O.S. § 1 et seq.); replaced the old… | 30 days from the date of injury, given orally or in writing (85A O.S. § 68); late notice… |
| Oregon | Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Chapter 656 (ORS 656.001 to 656.794) | ORS 656.265(1) — the worker must notify the employer immediately and no later than 90… |
| Pennsylvania | Purdon’s Pennsylvania Statutes, Title 77 P.S. §§ 1–2710… | Section 311 (77 P.S. § 631) — give notice within 21 days so benefits run from the date of… |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island General Laws Title 28, Chapters 28-29 to 28-38 (plus… | 30 days after the injury happens or first appears — R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-30 |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code of Laws Title 42 (§§ 42-1-10 et seq.) | Notice to the employer immediately or as soon as practicable, and no later than 90 days… |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Title 62, chapters 62-1 through 62-9 | Give written notice to the employer within 3 business days of the injury (SDCL 62-7-10).… |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Code Annotated Title 50, Chapter 6 (§§ 50-6-101 through… | Written notice to the employer within 15 days after the accident, unless the worker shows… |
| Texas | Texas Labor Code, Title 5, Subtitle A (Chapters 401–419); retaliation… | 30 days after the injury, to the employer or a supervisor. Labor Code §409.001 |
| Utah | Utah Code Title 34A (Utah Labor Code), Chapter 2, 34A-2-101 et seq.… | The worker generally must notify the employer or the Division of Industrial Accidents… |
| Vermont | 21 V.S.A. Chapter 9 (21 V.S.A. § 601 et seq.) | Notice of injury to the employer “as soon as practicable,” and a claim for compensation… |
| Virginia | Code of Virginia Title 65.2 (§ 65.2-100 et seq.) | Written notice to the employer within 30 days of the accident (§ 65.2-600) |
| Washington | Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Title 51, “Industrial Insurance”… | There is no fixed number of days. Under RCW 51.28.010 the worker, or someone on their… |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Code Chapter 23 (§23-1-1 et seq.) | See guide |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 102 (Wis. Stat. §§ 102.01–102.89) | 30 days after the injury, or 30 days after the employee knew or should have known the… |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Statutes Title 27 (Labor and Employment), Chapter 14… | W.S. 27-14-502. The worker must tell the employer about the injury as soon as practical… |
Each cell was taken from that state’s own verified guide on this site. Where a cell says “see guide,” the state’s rule needs more than one line, and the guide covers it in full.
Workers compensation laws by state: What Every State Shares
Even though workers compensation laws by state differ in the details, they are built on the same basic deal. The worker gets medical care and wage benefits for a job injury without having to prove the employer was at fault. In exchange, the employer is usually protected from being sued over that injury.
Every state writes this deal into its own code, such as Florida Statutes Chapter 440, the Texas Labor Code, Title 5, or Minnesota Statutes Chapter 176, and every state has an agency that oversees claims.
The second thing every state shares is a notice rule. Before benefits can flow, the employer has to learn about the injury. Some states, like Hawaii, Kentucky and Vermont, say notice must come “as soon as practicable.” Others set a hard number, like 14 days in New Jersey, 21 days in Pennsylvania, or 45 days in Illinois.
Reading workers compensation laws by state side by side shows the same pattern: report fast, report in writing when you can, and keep a copy.
Workers compensation laws by state: What Makes It Different
The biggest thing that changes the answer is the statute itself. Workers compensation laws by state were written at different times by different lawmakers, so one state gives 7 days (North Dakota) while another gives 90 (Oregon). Some states also changed their laws over time.
Oklahoma replaced its old system with Title 85A, and Maine set a new 60-day rule for injuries on or after January 1, 2020. The date of your injury can decide which rule applies to you.
The second thing is how each state’s agency and courts handle late notice. In some states, late notice can cut off benefits. In others, like New Jersey, a notice defect does not automatically bar a claim, and in places like Delaware and Iowa the employer’s actual knowledge can matter.
Your own choices count too. Telling a supervisor out loud, sending a written notice, or filing a form like Nevada’s Form C-1 can each carry different weight, which is why workers compensation laws by state reward the worker who reports early and in writing.
The deadline that matters most is the one in your own state, and it can be as short as 3 business days. Tell your employer about the injury in writing right away, keep a copy, and then check your state’s page to confirm the exact rule.
Workers compensation laws by state: What to Do Next
Start by finding your state in the table above and noting the notice deadline. If you are hurt, give written notice to your employer the same day if you can, even in a state with a longer window. Write down the time, place and nature of the injury, since states like Missouri, Montana and Nebraska ask for those details.
If you are an employer, make sure your team knows how to take a report and pass it along quickly, because the rules for workers compensation laws by state apply to both sides.
Next, open your state’s full guide on this site. Each state page carries the statute citation, so you can read the actual law, and the agency contact, so you can ask questions for free. If your deadline has already passed or your situation is unusual, such as an injury that showed up over time, the state page explains the exceptions that may still protect you.
Use this hub as your map to workers compensation laws by state, and use the state page as your guide for the next step.
Find Your Workers compensation laws by state
Ready to see the workers compensation laws by state where you live? Click any state name in the table above, or browse the full category below.
Browse All Workers compensation laws by state Guides →
Related Master Guides
Official Sources
- Official state codes: each act’s official text, linked inside every state guide
- U.S. Dept. of Labor, State Workers’ Compensation Officials: www.dol.gov — the agency that administers each act
Workers compensation laws by state data compiled from each state’s verified guide on this site, which cites the statute and the agency. Figures change by statute and by year, so each row links to the page that explains it. Last reviewed October 2026.
Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading it. Rules, deadlines and figures vary by state and change over time. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney or your state workers’ compensation agency.