I got hurt at work in California. How do I file a workers' comp claim?

Workers’ compHow to fileCaliforniaChecked Nov 6, 2026

From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-06 · Source: California DIR · Division of Workers' Compensation · How to file a claim View original ↗

In short

Fill in the employee part of the claim form and give it to your employer right away.
Keep a copy. Mail it by certified mail if you cannot hand it in.
The insurance company usually sends a status letter in 14 days.

What this means

California's Division of Workers' Compensation says your employer must give or mail you a claim form within one working day after learning about your injury or illness [1]. Fill out only the "employee" section, sign and date it, and keep a copy [1]. If you mail it, use certified mail. Ask for a return receipt. Then you have a record of the dates [1]. If you do not return the completed form to your employer, you may risk your right to benefits [1].

Then your employer fills in its part. It sends the form to the insurance company [1]. Generally, the insurance company has 14 days to mail you a letter. The letter tells you the status of your claim [1].

Your next step

Sign the employee section today and keep a copy. Hand it in or send it by certified mail. Then mark 14 days on a calendar; if no letter comes, call the insurance company. Deadline in the source: 14 days for the insurance company's status letter. The page gives no deadline for you to file the form.

Check it yourself

This is the California page for injured workers. The page does not state the last date to file the claim form: "Don't know yet" - ask the Information and Assistance Unit (1-800-736-7401). Other states have different rules.

Where this comes from (1)

[1] California DIR · Division of Workers' Compensation · How to file a claim · checked 2026-11-06
Your employer must give or mail you a claim form within one working day after learning about your injury or illness. … Complete only the “employee” section of the form and send it to your employer right away. … If you mail the claim form, use certified mail — return receipt requested … If you don’t return the completed form to your employer you may risk your right to benefits. … Generally, the insurance company has 1…

How we found this

We matched your question to 1 official source, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-06.

What we don’t know yet

Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.

Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.

Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.

This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.

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