Workers' Comp Filing Deadlines by State (2026)
Every state sets its own statute of limitations for filing a workers' compensation claim. The shortest is 90 days (Nevada); the longest is 6 years (Wisconsin, Utah, Vermont). Missing the deadline usually means losing your right to benefits entirely.
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90 days filing deadline (1 state)
200 days filing deadline (1 state)
1 year filing deadline (13 states)
Arizona
File within 1 year
Report immediately
California
File within 1 year
Report within 30 days
Georgia
File within 1 year
Report within 30 days
Idaho
File within 1 year
Report within 60 days
Louisiana
File within 1 year
Report within 30 days
Montana
File within 1 year
Report immediately
New Mexico
File within 1 year
Report within 15 days
North Dakota
File within 1 year
Report immediately
Oregon
File within 1 year
Report immediately
Tennessee
File within 1 year
Report within 15 days
Texas
File within 1 year
Report within 30 days
Washington
File within 1 year
Report immediately
Wyoming
File within 1 year
Report immediately
2 years filing deadline (24 states)
Alabama
File within 2 years
Report within 90 days
Alaska
File within 2 years
Report immediately
Arkansas
File within 2 years
Report immediately
Colorado
File within 2 years
Report within 10 days
Delaware
File within 2 years
Report within 90 days
Florida
File within 2 years
Report within 30 days
Hawaii
File within 2 years
Report immediately
Indiana
File within 2 years
Report within 30 days
Iowa
File within 2 years
Report within 90 days
Kentucky
File within 2 years
Report immediately
Maine
File within 2 years
Report immediately
Maryland
File within 2 years
Report within 10 days
Michigan
File within 2 years
Report within 90 days
Mississippi
File within 2 years
Report within 30 days
Missouri
File within 2 years
Report within 30 days
Nebraska
File within 2 years
Report immediately
New Jersey
File within 2 years
Report immediately
New York
File within 2 years
Report within 30 days
North Carolina
File within 2 years
Report within 30 days
Ohio
File within 2 years
Report immediately
Oklahoma
File within 2 years
Report within 30 days
South Carolina
File within 2 years
Report within 90 days
South Dakota
File within 2 years
Report immediately
Virginia
File within 2 years
Report within 30 days
3 years filing deadline (7 states)
Connecticut
File within 3 years
Report immediately
Illinois
File within 3 years
Report within 45 days
Minnesota
File within 3 years
Report within 14 days
New Hampshire
File within 3 years
Report immediately
Pennsylvania
File within 3 years
Report within 21 days
Rhode Island
File within 3 years
Report immediately
West Virginia
File within 3 years
Report immediately
4 years filing deadline (1 state)
Why Workers' Comp Deadlines Matter
Workers' compensation is a no-fault system, but it's not automatic. You have to file a claim, and every state sets a hard deadline. Miss it and your right to benefits usually disappears permanently — no matter how legitimate the injury.
Two deadlines matter: (1) how quickly you report the injury to your employer, and (2) how long you have to formally file a claim with the state workers' comp board. The reporting deadline is usually much shorter than the filing deadline — anywhere from 24 hours to 90 days depending on the state. Treat the reporting deadline as the real deadline.
The filing deadline ranges from 90 days in Nevada to 6 years in Wisconsin, Utah, and Vermont. Most states fall between 1 and 3 years. Occupational diseases (carpal tunnel, hearing loss, asbestosis) have a separate clock that starts when you discovered the condition was work-related — not when you were first exposed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What state has the shortest workers' comp statute of limitations?▾
Nevada has the shortest workers' compensation statute of limitations in the US at just 90 days from the date of injury. Kansas is the second-shortest at 200 days.
What state has the longest workers' comp statute of limitations?▾
Wisconsin, Utah, and Vermont each give injured workers 6 years from the date of injury to file a claim — the longest standard deadlines in the US. Massachusetts follows at 4 years.
Does the workers' comp deadline start from the date of injury or the date of diagnosis?▾
For acute injuries (fall, lifting injury, car accident), the clock starts the day the injury happened. For occupational diseases (carpal tunnel, hearing loss, asbestosis), nearly every state applies a "discovery rule" — the clock starts the day you learned (or reasonably should have learned) that the condition was work-related.
Can I extend the workers' comp filing deadline?▾
Some states allow extensions for minority (injured worker was under 18), mental or physical incapacity, or employer fraud. Each exception is narrow and fact-specific. If you think one applies to you, talk to a workers' comp attorney immediately — the clock keeps running while you decide.
What happens if I miss the workers' comp deadline?▾
If you file after the statute of limitations has expired, your claim will almost always be denied as time-barred. You typically cannot re-file, and medical bills already incurred become your personal responsibility. A free attorney consultation is worthwhile even if you think you've missed the deadline — narrow exceptions sometimes apply.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws change over time. If a deadline is approaching, consult a licensed workers' comp attorney in your state.