How to File a Utah Workers' Compensation Claim: Reporting Deadlines and Steps
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: In Utah, report a work injury or illness to your employer immediately and keep proof of the report. Under Utah Code § 34A-2-407, an employee who sustains a work injury must notify the employer promptly, and a claim is barred if the employee fails to notify the employer (or the Industrial Accidents Division) within 180 days after the injury. Once reported, the employer has 7 days to report to its insurance carrier, the carrier has 14 days to file the First Report of Injury (Form 122) with the Industrial Accidents Division, and the treating doctor must file a Physician's Initial Report (Form 123) within 7 days of the first visit. The carrier decides whether the claim is compensable within 21 days of receiving the claim, with up to 24 more days if more investigation is needed.
Who this guide is for
Utah employees hurt at work — or developing a work-related illness — who need to know what to do now, what the employer and insurer must do, and which deadlines can cost them benefits.
Step 1: Get medical care and report the injury
- Get treatment first for anything serious. Call 911 if needed.
- Report the injury to your employer right away — a supervisor, manager, HR, or anyone designated to receive injury reports — and make sure it is documented (a written note or email is best). If you can't report it yourself, next of kin or your attorney can.
- Tell the doctor how, when, and where the injury happened so the medical report is accurate.
Why the 180 days matters. Under § 34A-2-407(3), an employee is barred from a claim for benefits arising from an injury if the employee doesn't notify the employer or the division within 180 days after the day the injury occurs (a different period applies to occupational hearing loss). Notice can also be satisfied by an employer's or physician's report once filed, or by the payment of benefits. Don't rely on those; report promptly.
Step 2: What the employer must do
After you report, the employer has 7 days to report the claim to its workers' compensation insurance carrier (or to handle it directly if self-insured). The employer and carrier must give you a copy of the report and a statement of your rights and responsibilities prepared by the Division. Employers who refuse or neglect to make required reports can face a civil assessment. Employers must also post their carrier information at the work site, and cannot deduct the cost of coverage from wages.
Step 3: What the doctor must do
A doctor treating a work injury must complete a Physician's Initial Report of Injury or Illness (Form 123) and send it to the Division within 7 days of your first visit. You can ask the provider for a copy.
Step 4: The carrier opens the claim and decides
The insurance carrier opens a claim once it receives the employer's report, the doctor's report, or both, and files the First Report of Injury (Form 122) with the Division within 14 days. The carrier must determine compensability within 21 days of receiving the claim for benefits. If more investigation is needed, the carrier or self-insured employer has an additional 24 days to accept or deny.
Step 5: Benefits begin (if accepted)
If accepted, disability checks are generally issued every two weeks. Benefits can include medical care, temporary total and partial disability, permanent partial or total disability, and death and burial benefits. See Utah Workers' Compensation Benefits and Rates (2026).
Other deadlines to know
- Medical bills: to be reimbursed, a medical expense must generally be submitted to the employer or carrier within one year of the later of the date incurred or the date you knew or should have known it related to the accident (§ 34A-2-417(1)).
- Applying for a hearing: to preserve claims for disability compensation, you must file an application for hearing with the Division of Adjudication within six years of the date of the accident and be able to prove entitlement within 12 years (§ 34A-2-417(2)).
- Death benefits: a claim for death benefits is barred unless an application for hearing is filed within one year of the date of death (§ 34A-2-417(3)).
If your claim is denied
You can talk to the adjuster, contact the Industrial Accidents Division, and ultimately file an Application for Hearing. See Utah Workers' Compensation Denied Claim: How to Appeal.
If someone other than your employer caused the injury
You may have a separate claim against a third party. See Utah Workers' Compensation Third-Party Claims.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to report a work injury in Utah?
Report promptly. A claim is barred if you don't notify the employer or the Division within 180 days after the injury.
Does my employer need to carry workers' compensation insurance?
Every employer is required to provide coverage for its employees, either through insurance or with permission to self-insure, and may not charge the cost to employees.
Who decides if my claim is approved?
The insurance carrier (or self-insured employer) decides compensability within 21 days, with up to 24 additional days if more investigation is needed.
Can a part-time employee file a claim?
The Labor Commission states that employees are covered by workers' compensation when they begin work, including part-time workers.
Is workers' comp fault-based?
No. It's a no-fault system, with limited exceptions such as intentional self-inflicted injuries.