Filing a Utah 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 Utah process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Utah sources, verified as of June 2026.
Utah at a Glance
| Report to employer | 180 days. An injured worker should report the injury to the employer as soon as possible; under Utah Code 34A-2-407, failure to notify the employer within 180 days of the injury may disqualify the worker from benefits. (Report immediately — waiting weakens the claim.) |
| Deadline to file | 6 years from the date of the accident to file the claim (Application for Hearing) under Utah Code 34A-2-417. There is an additional outer limit of 12 years from the date of the accident to prove entitlement to compensation if the application was timely filed within the 6-year window. (Note: certain related deadlines are 1 year — medical bills, travel-expense reimbursement, and death claims must be filed within 1 year.) |
| Where to file | Utah Labor Commission. The initial injury reports are filed with the Industrial Accidents Division — the Employer’s First Report of Injury or Illness (Form 122) filed by the employer and the Physician’s Initial Report of Injury or Occupational Disease (Form 123) filed by the treating doctor. If a claim is denied or disputed, the worker files an Application for Hearing with the Labor Commission’s Adjudication Division. |
| Choose your doctor? | It depends. If the employer or insurer has notified you of a preferred provider organization (PPO), you generally must go there for your initial treatment, or you may be liable for part of the initial cost. The PPO must offer a choice of more than one physician in the specialty needed. If there is no designated preferred provider, you may choose your own doctor (one who accepts workers’ comp). After the first visit you may make a one-time change of provider, and you must notify the insurance carrier of the change. Confirm specifics with the Labor Commission. |
| Benefits start | There is a 3-day waiting period, so wage (temporary total disability) benefits generally begin on day 4 after the injury. If total temporary disability lasts longer than 14 calendar days, the first 3 days are also paid retroactively. Temporary total disability is paid at 66-2/3% of the worker’s average weekly wage (plus dependent allowances), with a maximum of 1306 per week (100% of the state average weekly wage) for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 — the current-year figure; confirm the new rate with the Labor Commission after July 1, 2026. |
In This Utah Guide:
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Utah
Filing a Utah 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 Utah process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Utah sources, verified as of June 2026.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Utah
First steps: 1) Report the injury to your employer right away (no later than 180 days). 2) Get medical treatment and tell the provider the injury is work-related — if your employer/insurer has designated a preferred provider organization (PPO), go there for the first visit. 3) Confirm your employer files the Employer’s First Report (Form 122) and that the doctor files the Physician’s Initial Report (Form 123).
4) Keep records of the injury, witnesses, treatment, and missed work. 5) Contact the Industrial Accidents Division at (801) 530-6800 or (800) 530-5090 with questions.
1) Worker reports the injury to the employer and seeks medical care (telling the provider it is work-related). 2) The treating doctor files the Physician’s Initial Report (Form 123) with the Industrial Accidents Division.
3) Within 7 days of being notified, the employer files the Employer’s First Report of Injury (Form 122) with its insurance carrier (and the Commission) and gives the worker a copy; the carrier then reports the First Report of Injury electronically to the Industrial Accidents Division within 14 days.
4) The insurance carrier opens a claim and has 21 days from notification to make a determination of compensability (accept or deny). 5) If accepted, the carrier pays medical and wage-loss benefits; if denied or disputed, the worker may file an Application for Hearing with the Adjudication Division.
Choosing a Doctor in Utah
It depends. If the employer or insurer has notified you of a preferred provider organization (PPO), you generally must go there for your initial treatment, or you may be liable for part of the initial cost. The PPO must offer a choice of more than one physician in the specialty needed. If there is no designated preferred provider, you may choose your own doctor (one who accepts workers’ comp).
After the first visit you may make a one-time change of provider, and you must notify the insurance carrier of the change. Confirm specifics with the Labor Commission.
What to Do If Your Utah Claim Is Denied
If the carrier denies or disputes the claim, the worker (or in a death case, the surviving spouse/dependents) may file an Application for Hearing with the Utah Labor Commission’s Adjudication Division (a different form is used for injury-by-accident versus occupational disease).
The employer/insurer is ordered to file a written Answer within 30 days, and a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge is scheduled no sooner than 120 days after the Answer is due. You may represent yourself, but only a Utah-licensed attorney can represent you.
After the ALJ’s Order, a party may file a Motion for Review with the Commissioner or Appeals Board, and ultimately appeal to the Utah Court of Appeals.
Appeal deadline: 30 days. A party dissatisfied with the ALJ’s Order must file a Motion for Review within 30 days of the date the Order was issued. The Commissioner or Appeals Board generally issues its decision within 90 days. A further appeal (Notice of Appeal) to the Utah Court of Appeals must then be filed within 30 days of the final agency Order.
Was your claim denied? A denial is not the end of the road in Utah — 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 Utah
Once your claim is filed in Utah, 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.
📨 Get Free Workers Comp Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Common Mistakes That Hurt a Utah Claim
The two most common ways injured workers in Utah 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 Utah claim rules: The insurance carrier must decide compensability within 21 days of being notified of the claim. Utah uses a preferred-provider rule: if a PPO is designated you must use it for initial care, but you are entitled to one one-time change of physician afterward (with notice to the carrier).
The statute of limitations is two-tiered — file within 6 years, but prove entitlement within 12 years of the accident. This is general reference information, not legal advice; many claimants benefit from confirming deadlines and rights with the Utah Labor Commission and a licensed Utah attorney, since missing a deadline can bar the claim.
Filing Your Utah Workers Comp Claim the Right Way
A Utah 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 Utah 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 Utah workers comp claim is on solid ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a work injury in Utah?
In Utah, you generally must tell your employer within 180 days. An injured worker should report the injury to the employer as soon as possible; under Utah Code 34A-2-407, failure to notify the employer within 180 days of the injury may disqualify the worker from benefits. (Report immediately — waiting weakens the claim.) 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 Utah?
The Utah statute of limitations to file is 6 years from the date of the accident to file the claim (Application for Hearing) under Utah Code 34A-2-417. There is an additional outer limit of 12 years from the date of the accident to prove entitlement to compensation if the application was timely filed within the 6-year window.
(Note: certain related deadlines are 1 year — medical bills, travel-expense reimbursement, and death claims must be filed within 1 year.). Reporting the injury and filing the claim are two separate deadlines — do not rely on one to cover the other.
What if my Utah workers’ comp claim is denied?
If the carrier denies or disputes the claim, the worker (or in a death case, the surviving spouse/dependents) may file an Application for Hearing with the Utah Labor Commission’s Adjudication Division (a different form is used for injury-by-accident versus occupational disease).
The employer/insurer is ordered to file a written Answer within 30 days, and a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge is scheduled no sooner than 120 days after the Answer is due. You may represent yourself, but only a Utah-licensed attorney can represent you.
After the ALJ’s Order, a party may file a Motion for Review with the Commissioner or Appeals Board, and ultimately appeal to the Utah Court of Appeals.
Official Utah Sources & Resources
- Utah Utah Labor Commission — Industrial Accidents Division (administers claims) and Adjudication Division (hears disputes): https://laborcommission.utah.gov/divisions/industrial-accidents/
- Utah Workers’ Comp Statute: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title34A/Chapter2/34A-2-S417.html
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Utah 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 Utah Workers’ Comp Guides
- Utah Workers’ Comp Settlements
- Utah Workers’ Comp Requirements (Employers)
- Workers’ Comp Guides for All 50 States
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.