How to File a Workers' Compensation Claim in Arizona
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Arizona · Last updated 2026-09-07
A workers' compensation claim is how an employee who is injured on the job, or made ill by work, obtains medical care and wage-replacement benefits from the employer's insurer, without having to prove the employer was at fault. In Arizona, the system is administered by the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA), and workers' compensation is a no-fault system. Two deadlines are critical. You must report the accident and injury to your employer forthwith, meaning as soon as practicable (A.R.S. 23-908), and you must file your claim in writing with the Industrial Commission within one year after the injury occurred or the right accrued (A.R.S. 23-1061). You open the claim by filing a Worker's Report of Injury, or a Worker's and Physician's Report of Injury, with the ICA. The insurance carrier then issues a Notice of Claim Status accepting or denying the claim, and if it is denied you can request a hearing before the Industrial Commission. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
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How do I file a workers' compensation claim in Arizona?
First, report the accident and injury to your employer forthwith, meaning as soon as practicable (A.R.S. 23-908). Then file a claim with the Industrial Commission of Arizona by submitting a Worker's Report of Injury. Your treating physician can file the physician's portion of the report.
How long do I have to file a workers' compensation claim in Arizona?
Two deadlines matter. You must report the injury to your employer forthwith, as soon as practicable (A.R.S. 23-908). Separately, you must file your claim in writing with the Industrial Commission of Arizona within one year after the injury occurred or the right accrued (A.R.S. 23-1061). Missing either can bar benefits.
What form do I file for a workers' compensation claim in Arizona?
You file a Worker's Report of Injury, or a Worker's and Physician's Report of Injury, with the Industrial Commission of Arizona. The employee completes the worker's portion, and the treating physician completes the physician's portion. Filing this report with the commission opens your claim and satisfies the one-year deadline.
Who handles workers' compensation claims in Arizona?
Arizona's workers' compensation system is administered by the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) through its Claims Division. Your employer's insurance carrier decides your claim day to day and issues a Notice of Claim Status. If the carrier denies the claim, you can request a hearing before the commission.
Arizona workers' compensation claim law at a glance
In Arizona, workers' compensation gives an employee who is injured on the job medical care and wage-replacement benefits from the employer's insurer, regardless of fault. The system is run by the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) through its Claims Division. You must report the accident and injury to your employer forthwith, meaning as soon as practicable (A.R.S. 23-908). If you do not report forthwith, no compensation is paid unless the commission excuses the delay. You then file a claim with the ICA by submitting a Worker's Report of Injury, or a Worker's and Physician's Report of Injury. That claim must be filed in writing with the commission within one year after the injury occurred or the right accrued (A.R.S. 23-1061). The insurance carrier issues a Notice of Claim Status, and a denial can be contested at a hearing before the commission.
Filing an Arizona workers' compensation claim after a warehouse back injury
Suppose you hurt your back lifting boxes at a Phoenix warehouse. You tell your supervisor and put the injury in writing that same day, satisfying the duty to report forthwith (A.R.S. 23-908). You see a doctor, who completes the physician's portion of the Worker's and Physician's Report of Injury. You file the report with the Industrial Commission of Arizona to open your claim. The insurance carrier starts paying for treatment but later issues a Notice of Claim Status disputing your wage-replacement benefits. Because you must file your claim in writing within one year of the injury (A.R.S. 23-1061), you have preserved your rights, and you request a hearing before the commission to contest the denial. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
A.R.S. 23-908 (duty to report the injury to the employer forthwith)
Provides that when an accident occurs to an employee, the employee shall forthwith report the accident and the resulting injury to the employer, and that if the accident is not reported forthwith, no compensation shall be paid for the injury claimed unless the commission excuses the failure after investigation.
A.R.S. 23-1061 (one-year deadline to file a claim with the commission)
Provides that no claim for compensation is valid or enforceable unless the claim is filed with the commission in writing within one year after the injury occurred or the right thereto accrued, with the period running from when the injury becomes manifest or the claimant reasonably should know it is compensable.
Industrial Commission of Arizona, Claims Division
The ICA Claims Division administers Arizona workers' compensation, explaining that workers' compensation is a no-fault system in which you receive medical and compensation benefits no matter who caused the job-related accident, and providing the Worker's Report of Injury forms an injured worker files.
Regional Variances
Arizona workers' compensation claim rules at a glance
Reporting deadline
You must report the accident and injury to your employer forthwith, meaning as soon as practicable, under A.R.S. 23-908. If you do not report forthwith, no compensation is paid unless the commission excuses the delay.
Claim form
The Worker's Report of Injury, or the Worker's and Physician's Report of Injury. You file it with the Industrial Commission of Arizona; the treating physician completes the physician's portion. Filing it with the commission opens the claim.
Filing deadline
One year to file the claim in writing with the commission, under A.R.S. 23-1061, running from when the injury occurred or the right accrued. The period starts when the injury becomes manifest or you reasonably should know it.
Who administers it
The Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA), through its Claims Division. Disputes are decided at a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge at the commission after the carrier issues a Notice of Claim Status.
How disputes are filed
By requesting a hearing before the Industrial Commission when the insurance carrier denies, delays, or underpays the claim through the Notice of Claim Status. Act within the protest window the notice states.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Report the accident and injury to your employer
Forthwith (as soon as practicable) days after startingGive your employer notice of the accident and injury forthwith, as soon as practicable (A.R.S. 23-908). If you do not report forthwith, no compensation is paid unless the Industrial Commission excuses the delay, so do this immediately and keep a dated copy.
Get medical care and keep records
Right after the injury days after startingSeek treatment for your injury and keep every medical record and bill. Your treating physician can complete the physician's portion of the Worker's and Physician's Report of Injury, which supports your claim if the carrier later disputes benefits.
File your claim with the Industrial Commission
Within one year of the injury days after startingFile a Worker's Report of Injury, or a Worker's and Physician's Report of Injury, with the Industrial Commission of Arizona within one year (A.R.S. 23-1061). File online, by mail, or in person, and keep a copy. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Track the Notice of Claim Status and deadlines
While the claim is pending days after startingThe insurance carrier will issue a Notice of Claim Status accepting or denying the claim. Calendar any deadline the carrier sets for information, keep proof of what you sent, and note the injury date so you protect the one-year filing window (A.R.S. 23-1061).
Request a hearing if the claim is denied
Within the protest window the notice states days after startingIf the claim is denied, delayed, or underpaid through the Notice of Claim Status, request a hearing before the Industrial Commission to contest it. Act within the protest window the notice states, and keep proof of your filing to protect your rights.
Keep a file of both deadlines and your evidence
Ongoing after the injury days after startingKeep a file with the injury date, the date you reported to your employer, your filed report, and all medical records. Calendar the forthwith reporting duty and the one-year filing deadline so neither passes. Attorney review of any hearing request is available through DocDraft.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report the accident and injury to your employer | Give your employer notice of the accident and injury forthwith, as soon as practicable (A.R.S. 23-908). If you do not report forthwith, no compensation is paid unless the Industrial Commission excuses the delay, so do this immediately and keep a dated copy. | - | Forthwith (as soon as practicable) |
| Get medical care and keep records | Seek treatment for your injury and keep every medical record and bill. Your treating physician can complete the physician's portion of the Worker's and Physician's Report of Injury, which supports your claim if the carrier later disputes benefits. | - | Right after the injury |
| File your claim with the Industrial Commission | File a Worker's Report of Injury, or a Worker's and Physician's Report of Injury, with the Industrial Commission of Arizona within one year (A.R.S. 23-1061). File online, by mail, or in person, and keep a copy. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft. | - | Within one year of the injury |
| Track the Notice of Claim Status and deadlines | The insurance carrier will issue a Notice of Claim Status accepting or denying the claim. Calendar any deadline the carrier sets for information, keep proof of what you sent, and note the injury date so you protect the one-year filing window (A.R.S. 23-1061). | - | While the claim is pending |
| Request a hearing if the claim is denied | If the claim is denied, delayed, or underpaid through the Notice of Claim Status, request a hearing before the Industrial Commission to contest it. Act within the protest window the notice states, and keep proof of your filing to protect your rights. | - | Within the protest window the notice states |
| Keep a file of both deadlines and your evidence | Keep a file with the injury date, the date you reported to your employer, your filed report, and all medical records. Calendar the forthwith reporting duty and the one-year filing deadline so neither passes. Attorney review of any hearing request is available through DocDraft. | - | Ongoing after the injury |
Frequently Asked Questions
A workers' compensation claim is how an employee injured on the job, or made sick by work, obtains medical care and wage-replacement benefits from the employer's insurer, without proving fault. In Arizona, you open a claim by filing a Worker's Report of Injury with the Industrial Commission of Arizona.
Reporting means telling your employer about the accident and injury forthwith, as soon as practicable (A.R.S. 23-908). Filing the claim is the separate step of submitting a Worker's Report of Injury to the Industrial Commission of Arizona within one year. Reporting comes first; filing with the commission follows.
Arizona law requires you to report the accident and injury to your employer forthwith, which means as soon as practicable (A.R.S. 23-908). There is no fixed number of days, but if you do not report forthwith, no compensation is paid unless the Industrial Commission excuses the delay.
Generally, you have one year to file. A.R.S. 23-1061 states no claim is valid or enforceable unless filed in writing with the commission within one year after the injury occurred or the right accrued. The period runs from when the injury becomes manifest or you reasonably should know it.
Failing to report forthwith can cost you your benefits. A.R.S. 23-908 says if the accident is not reported by the employee or physician forthwith, no compensation is paid for the injury claimed. The Industrial Commission may excuse the failure only if an investigation shows the circumstances excused it.
Day to day, the employer's insurance carrier decides your claim and issues a Notice of Claim Status. If it denies or underpays the claim, the Industrial Commission of Arizona resolves the dispute after you request a hearing, which is decided by an Administrative Law Judge at the commission.
No. Arizona workers' compensation is a no-fault system, so you receive medical and compensation benefits no matter who caused the job-related accident. You generally need to show the injury arose out of and in the course of your employment. In exchange, benefits are set by statute.
If the insurance carrier denies your claim through the Notice of Claim Status, you can request a hearing before the Industrial Commission of Arizona to contest the denial. Act within the protest window the notice states, and keep proof of your filing. Attorney review of your case is available through DocDraft.
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