Michigan Workers Comp Guide
Filing a workers comp claim in Michigan 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 Michigan
Report the injury to your employer first — this starts the clock on your claim and is separate from the formal filing deadline.
- 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 Michigan's deadline — see below
- Cooperate with the insurer's investigation and any requested exams
Filing Deadline and Waiting Period
Michigan's general filing deadline is 2 years from the date of injury, and there's a 7-day waiting period before wage-replacement benefits begin. See the full filing deadline guide for tolling rules and what happens if you miss it.
Michigan-Specific Rules That Affect Your Claim
Michigan calculates your benefit rate against your after-tax (spendable) earnings rather than your gross wages, which is different from how most states calculate benefits. This usually results in a higher effective percentage of take-home pay than the headline rate might suggest, but it also means a simple gross-wage calculation will overstate or understate what you're actually owed.
What Happens After You File
Once your claim is filed, the insurer has a window to accept, deny, or request more information — how long that takes varies, but persistent follow-up rarely hurts.
Do You Need an Attorney in Michigan?
Whether you need an attorney in Michigan usually comes down to whether the insurer is disputing something. An uncontested claim for a minor injury rarely requires one; a denied claim or permanent disability almost always benefits from one. Michigan caps attorney contingency fees at 20% of first $100,000, then 15% on the remainder.