Colorado Workers Comp Guide
Filing a workers comp claim in Colorado follows a specific sequence, and missing a step early on can slow down benefits you're otherwise entitled to.
How to File a Claim in Colorado
The first step is always notifying your employer, in writing if possible, as soon as reasonably practical after the injury.
- Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible
- Seek medical treatment and inform the provider it's work-related
- Your employer files a First Report of Injury with their insurer
- File your own claim within Colorado's deadline — see below
- Cooperate with the insurer's investigation and any requested exams
Filing Deadline and Waiting Period
Colorado's general filing deadline is 2 years from the date of injury, and there's a 3-day waiting period before wage-replacement benefits begin. See the full filing deadline guide for tolling rules and what happens if you miss it.
What Happens After You File
Filing doesn't mean the process is over — it means the insurer's clock starts. Keep records of every communication from this point forward.
Do You Need an Attorney in Colorado?
Not every Colorado claim needs an attorney — straightforward claims with no dispute over compensability often resolve without one. But if your claim is denied, disputed, or involves a permanent injury, the calculus changes. Colorado caps attorney contingency fees at 20%.