Clear answers for workers hurt on the job.
Workers compensation law is dense, state-specific, and intentionally technical. We translate it into plain-English guides that help injured workers protect medical benefits, wage replacement, and the right to return to work — without the legalese.
Four pillars of workplace injury law
Each practice area is documented by licensed attorneys and updated against current statutes. Start with your situation — or browse all.
Workers Compensation
Claims, appeals, disability ratings, and medical benefit disputes across every U.S. state system.
Read → 02Personal Injury
Third-party liability, slip and fall, construction accidents, and catastrophic injury claims beyond workers comp.
Read → 03OSHA Violations
Reporting workplace safety violations, whistleblower protections, and the top-cited OSHA standards each year.
Read → 04Permanent Disability
Impairment ratings, long-term wage loss calculations, and Social Security Disability intersection with workers comp.
Read →The Complete Workers Compensation Guide, 2026 edition
A 3,500-word reference covering every step of a workers comp claim — from the first accident report through impairment ratings, hearings, appeals, settlement, and return-to-work. State-by-state deadlines, sample timelines, and a printable claimant checklist.
- Reporting deadlines for all 50 states
- Medical benefit and wage replacement formulas
- When to hire an attorney (and how to pay them)
- Settlement ranges by injury severity
- Appeals, rehearings, and commission review
Recent analysis
What every injured worker should know
- Report in writing within 30 days — oral reports are often disputed later; email or paper creates a record.
- Workers comp is no-fault — you don’t need to prove your employer was negligent, only that the injury happened at work.
- Retaliation is illegal — an employer cannot lawfully fire, demote, or punish you for filing a claim.
- Third-party claims are separate — if a contractor, product, or driver caused the injury, you can recover pain-and-suffering damages outside workers comp.
- Attorneys work on contingency — state law typically caps fees at 15–25% of recovered benefits.
Questions we hear most often
What is workers compensation?
Workers compensation is a state-regulated insurance system that pays medical care, wage replacement, and disability benefits to employees injured on the job. It covers most hourly and salaried workers regardless of fault, but trades that coverage for a legal restriction: in most cases, an employee cannot sue their employer directly for workplace injuries. Each U.S. state administers its own program through a labor commission or industrial accident board.
How long do I have to file a workers comp claim?
Most states require employees to report a workplace injury to their supervisor within 30 days of the incident, and to file a formal claim with the state workers compensation board within one to three years. Deadlines vary significantly: New York allows two years, California one year from discovery, and Pennsylvania three years. Missing these statutes of limitations almost always bars recovery, so reporting immediately in writing protects your rights.
Can I be fired for filing a workers compensation claim?
Retaliation against an employee who files a workers compensation claim is illegal under both state law and federal OSHA Section 11(c). Employers may not fire, demote, reduce hours, or otherwise punish a worker for exercising this right. Retaliation cases are separate from the injury claim itself and can result in reinstatement, back pay, and punitive damages. Document every adverse action in writing and consult counsel within 30 days.
What if a third party caused my workplace injury?
When a non-employer third party — a subcontractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, or motorist — causes or contributes to your workplace injury, you may pursue both a workers compensation claim and a separate personal injury lawsuit against that third party. These third-party claims can recover pain and suffering damages that workers comp does not provide, though your employer's insurer is typically entitled to reimbursement from any third-party settlement.
How much does a workers compensation attorney cost?
Workers compensation attorneys almost universally work on contingency fees regulated by state law, typically 15 to 25 percent of the benefits recovered, with no upfront cost to the injured worker. In many states the fee must be approved by the workers compensation judge, and some states cap it at a fixed percentage. Initial consultations are routinely free, and if the attorney does not recover benefits, no fee is owed.
Start with the basics, or dig into your specific claim.
Our editorial team tracks 50 state workers comp systems, every published OSHA enforcement statistic, and the case law that shapes how claims are decided.