How to File a Workers' Compensation Claim in Maryland
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Maryland · 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 Maryland, the system is administered by the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission (WCC), which also decides contested claims. Two deadlines are critical. You must give your employer notice of an accidental personal injury, orally or in writing, within 10 days of the injury (Md. Labor & Employment 9-704), and you must file your claim with the Commission within two years of the injury or it is completely barred (Md. Labor & Employment 9-709). To open the claim, you file an Employee Claim Form C-1 directly with the Commission, including online, rather than returning a form to your employer. The employer's insurer then accepts or contests the claim, and if it is disputed the Commission holds a hearing and issues an award, subject to appeal to a circuit court. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
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How do I file a workers' compensation claim in Maryland?
First, report your injury to your employer within 10 days of the accident, orally or in writing (Md. Labor & Employment 9-704). Then file an Employee Claim Form C-1 with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission. The employer's insurer then accepts or contests your claim.
How long do I have to file a workers' compensation claim in Maryland?
Two deadlines matter. Report the injury to your employer within 10 days (Md. Labor & Employment 9-704). Separately, you must file your claim with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission within two years of the accidental injury, or it is completely barred (9-709). Missing either can end your benefits.
What is the C-1 claim form in Maryland?
The Employee Claim Form C-1 is the form you file with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission to open your claim. Unlike some states, you file it directly with the Commission, not with your employer. You can obtain and file the C-1 through the Commission, including online.
Who handles workers' compensation claims in Maryland?
The Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission administers the state's workers' compensation law and decides contested claims. Your employer's insurer handles day-to-day decisions on your claim. The Commission both administers claims and hears contested cases, and its decisions can be appealed to a Maryland circuit court.
Maryland workers' compensation claim law at a glance
In Maryland, workers' compensation gives an employee injured on the job medical care and wage-replacement benefits from the employer's insurer, regardless of fault. The system is administered by the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission, which also decides contested claims. You must give your employer notice of an accidental personal injury, orally or in writing, within 10 days (Md. Labor & Employment 9-704). To open the claim, you file an Employee Claim Form C-1 directly with the Commission, including online, rather than returning a form to your employer. The statute directs filing within 60 days, but a claim is completely barred if you do not file within two years of the injury (Md. Labor & Employment 9-709). If the insurer contests the claim, the Commission holds a hearing and issues an award.
Filing a Maryland workers' compensation claim after a warehouse back injury
Suppose you hurt your back lifting boxes at a Maryland warehouse. You tell your supervisor the same day and follow up in writing, staying well inside the 10-day notice deadline (Md. Labor & Employment 9-704). You see a doctor, keep the records, and file an Employee Claim Form C-1 with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission to open your claim. Because your disability lasts more than three days, your employer files a First Report of Injury. The insurer starts paying for treatment but later disputes your wage-replacement. Because a claim is completely barred after two years (Md. Labor & Employment 9-709), you request a Commission hearing well before that deadline. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
Md. Labor & Employment 9-704 (10-day notice of injury to employer)
Requires a covered employee injured by an accidental personal injury to give the employer oral or written notice within 10 days after the injury, and within 30 days after a work-related death. Unless excused by the Commission, failure to give notice bars a claim.
Md. Labor & Employment 9-709 (two-year limit to file a claim)
Directs a covered employee to file a claim with the Commission within 60 days of an accidental personal injury and provides that if the employee fails to file within 2 years after the date of the injury, the claim is completely barred.
Md. Labor & Employment 9-705 (occupational disease notice)
Requires a covered employee to give the employer written notice of an occupational disease within 1 year after the employee knows or has reason to believe he has the disease, and within 1 year after a related death. Failure to give notice bars a claim unless waived or excused.
Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission (agency)
The Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission administers the state's workers' compensation law, provides the Employee Claim Form C-1, and offers a forum for the resolution of individual claims. The Commission holds hearings on contested claims and issues awards subject to judicial review.
Regional Variances
Maryland workers' compensation claim rules at a glance
Reporting deadline
Within 10 days of the accidental personal injury, oral or written notice to your employer, under Md. Labor & Employment 9-704. For a work-related death, notice is due within 30 days. Unless excused by the Commission, failing to give notice can bar a claim.
Claim form
The Employee Claim Form C-1. Unlike states where you return a form to your employer, in Maryland you file the C-1 directly with the Workers' Compensation Commission, including online, to open your claim.
Filing deadline
The statute directs filing within 60 days, but a claim is completely barred if you do not file within two years of the accidental injury (Md. Labor & Employment 9-709). For occupational disease, different periods apply.
Who administers it
The Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission (WCC) administers the law and decides contested claims. Maryland has no separate appeals board; the Commission both administers and hears cases, subject to appeal to a circuit court.
How disputes are resolved
By requesting a hearing before the Commission when the insurer denies, delays, or underpays the claim. The Commission issues an award, which can be appealed to a Maryland circuit court within the statutory period.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Report the injury to your employer
Within 10 days of the injury days after startingGive your employer oral or written notice of the accidental personal injury within 10 days (Md. Labor & Employment 9-704). Unless the Commission excuses it, failing to give notice can bar your claim, so report immediately and keep a dated written record.
Get medical care and keep records
Right after the injury and ongoing days after startingSeek treatment for your injury and keep every medical record, bill, and letter. Documenting the diagnosis, treatment dates, and any work restrictions supports your claim if the employer's insurer later disputes whether the injury is work-related or how much you are owed.
File the Employee Claim Form C-1
As soon as possible; within 60 days directed days after startingFile the Employee Claim Form C-1 directly with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission, including online, to open your claim. The statute directs filing within 60 days. Keep a copy. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Track the insurer's decision and the employer report
While the claim is pending days after startingThe insurer will accept or contest your claim, and when disability lasts more than three days the employer must file a First Report of Injury with the Commission. Keep proof of what you sent and calendar the two-year filing limit under Md. Labor & Employment 9-709.
Request a Commission hearing if disputed
Within two years of the date of injury days after startingIf the claim is denied, delayed, or underpaid, request a hearing before the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission. A claim is completely barred if not filed within two years of the injury (Md. Labor & Employment 9-709), so act well before that deadline.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report the injury to your employer | Give your employer oral or written notice of the accidental personal injury within 10 days (Md. Labor & Employment 9-704). Unless the Commission excuses it, failing to give notice can bar your claim, so report immediately and keep a dated written record. | - | Within 10 days of the injury |
| Get medical care and keep records | Seek treatment for your injury and keep every medical record, bill, and letter. Documenting the diagnosis, treatment dates, and any work restrictions supports your claim if the employer's insurer later disputes whether the injury is work-related or how much you are owed. | - | Right after the injury and ongoing |
| File the Employee Claim Form C-1 | File the Employee Claim Form C-1 directly with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission, including online, to open your claim. The statute directs filing within 60 days. Keep a copy. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft. | - | As soon as possible; within 60 days directed |
| Track the insurer's decision and the employer report | The insurer will accept or contest your claim, and when disability lasts more than three days the employer must file a First Report of Injury with the Commission. Keep proof of what you sent and calendar the two-year filing limit under Md. Labor & Employment 9-709. | - | While the claim is pending |
| Request a Commission hearing if disputed | If the claim is denied, delayed, or underpaid, request a hearing before the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission. A claim is completely barred if not filed within two years of the injury (Md. Labor & Employment 9-709), so act well before that deadline. | - | Within two years of the date of 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 Maryland, you open a claim by reporting the injury and filing an Employee Claim Form C-1 with the Workers' Compensation Commission.
Reporting means telling your employer about the injury, orally or in writing, within 10 days (Md. Labor & Employment 9-704). Filing the claim is the separate step of submitting an Employee Claim Form C-1 to the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission. Reporting comes first; filing the C-1 with the Commission follows.
You have 10 days after the accidental personal injury to give your employer notice, orally or in writing (Md. Labor & Employment 9-704). For a work-related death, notice is due within 30 days. Unless the Commission excuses it, failing to give notice can bar your claim, so report promptly.
For an accidental injury, you must file your claim with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission within two years of the injury, or it is completely barred (Md. Labor & Employment 9-709). The statute also directs filing within 60 days, so file the Employee Claim Form C-1 as early as you can.
Reporting late can jeopardize your claim. Md. Labor & Employment 9-704 says that, unless excused by the Commission, failure to give notice bars a claim. The Commission may excuse late notice in some circumstances, but you should not rely on that, so notify your employer as soon as you can.
The Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission resolves disputed claims. If your employer's insurer contests or underpays your claim, the Commission holds a hearing and issues an award. If you disagree with the Commission's decision, you can appeal it to a Maryland circuit court within the time the statute allows.
No. Maryland workers' compensation is a no-fault system, so you do not have to prove your employer did anything wrong to receive benefits. You generally need to show the injury arose out of and in the course of your employment. In exchange, benefits are set by statute rather than a jury.
If your employer's insurer denies or delays your claim, you can request a hearing before the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission, which will decide the dispute and issue an award. You must still file within the two-year limit under Md. Labor & Employment 9-709. Attorney review of your case is available through DocDraft.
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