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How to report a work injury in California

By the CalCompGuide editorial team · Last updated November 2026 · How we write and check guides

Step 1: Get medical care first if it's an emergency

If you're badly hurt, go to the emergency room or call 911. Reporting can wait a few hours; your health can't. Tell the ER staff that you were hurt at work so the visit is billed to workers' compensation, not your own health insurance.

Step 2: Tell your employer, and say it's work-related

California law gives you 30 days from the date of injury to notify your employer (Labor Code §5400). In practice, report the same day or the next day. Late reports are the single most common reason insurers start asking questions.

Tell a supervisor, manager or HR, and be specific:

• what happened, where and when (for example, "I hurt my lower back lifting a pallet at Dock 3 on Tuesday around 2 p.m.");
• every body part that hurts, even ones that seem minor now;
• names of anyone who saw it happen.

Saying "my back hurts" is not the same as saying "I hurt my back at work." Make the work connection clear.

Step 3: Put it in writing

A verbal report counts, but a written one is proof. Send a short email or text to your supervisor and HR and keep a copy. If your employer has an incident report form, fill it out and ask for a copy. Keep a simple log: date reported, who you told, and what they said.

Step 4: Ask for a DWC-1 claim form

Once your employer knows about the injury, it must give you (or mail you) a DWC-1 claim form within one working day (Labor Code §5401). Reporting the injury and filing the claim form are two different steps: the claim form is what formally opens your claim, starts the insurer's 90-day decision clock and triggers up to $10,000 in medical treatment while the claim is investigated. See our walkthrough of how to fill out the DWC-1.

What if the injury happened gradually?

Repetitive and "wear and tear" injuries, like carpal tunnel, back problems from years of lifting, or hearing loss, are called cumulative trauma. For these, the 30 days usually run from when you first suffered disability and knew, or should have known, that your job caused it (see cumulative trauma claims). A doctor telling you "this is from your work" is often that moment.

What if I missed the 30 days?

Report anyway, right away. Late notice does not automatically end your claim. The employer generally has to show it was actually harmed by the delay, and notice can be excused if the employer already knew about the injury. But a late report gives the insurer an argument, so don't wait any longer. The bigger hard deadline is usually the one-year limit to file with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (see deadlines).

What not to do

• Don't downplay it. "It's nothing" on day one becomes "you said it was nothing" in month three.
• Don't sign anything you don't understand, especially a statement saying the injury didn't happen at work.
• Don't quit or stop going to treatment without thinking it through; both can affect benefits.
• Don't post about the injury or your activities on social media. Insurers look.

Your employer can't punish you for reporting

It's illegal to fire, demote or threaten you for reporting a work injury or filing a claim (Labor Code §132a). This protection covers all employees, including part-time, seasonal and undocumented workers.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. For free help from the state, call the DWC Information & Assistance unit at 1-800-736-7401.