{"id":429,"date":"2026-10-30T15:59:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T21:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspeninsuranceagency.com\/blog\/?p=429"},"modified":"2026-10-14T16:15:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T22:15:46","slug":"colorados-injury-reporting-deadlines-for-employees-and-employers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspeninsuranceagency.com\/blog\/colorados-injury-reporting-deadlines-for-employees-and-employers\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado\u2019s Injury Reporting Deadlines for Employees and Employers"},"content":{"rendered":"
Colorado’s workers’ compensation system runs on deadlines. Some belong to the injured employee, some to the employer, and some to the insurance carrier. Missing one can turn a simple claim into a dispute, so Denver employers benefit from knowing the timeline before an injury happens.<\/p>\n
The Colorado Reporting Timeline at a Glance<\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n
Timing<\/th>\n
Who<\/th>\n
What Generally Happens<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n
\n
Right away<\/td>\n
Employer<\/td>\n
Report a death, or an accident injuring three or more employees, to the Division immediately<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Within about 10 days of the injury<\/td>\n
Employee<\/td>\n
Give the employer written notice; current Division guidance points to 10 days, and sooner is better<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Within 7 days of receiving notice<\/td>\n
Employer<\/td>\n
Date-stamp the employee’s written notice and provide a copy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Within 7 business days<\/td>\n
Employer or insurer<\/td>\n
Provide the written designated provider list<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Within 10 days of notice<\/td>\n
Employer<\/td>\n
Report the injury to the workers’ comp carrier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Within 2 years<\/td>\n
Employee<\/td>\n
File a claim with the Division, with limited exceptions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
What Triggers a Formal Claim<\/h2>\n
Not every injury becomes a formal Division claim. Generally, lost time of more than three shifts or calendar days, permanent impairment, certain occupational diseases, or a denied claim require a first report to be filed with the Division. Carriers often file that report on the employer’s behalf, but employers should confirm it happened.<\/p>\n
Why Late Reports Hurt Everyone<\/h3>\n
An employee who reports late may lose some benefits. An employer who fails to report can face penalties, and an unreported injury can keep the employee’s own filing deadline from starting.<\/p>\n
Building a Simple Reporting Process<\/h2>\n
\n
Train supervisors to collect written injury reports the same day<\/li>\n
Keep your designated provider list current and easy to hand out<\/li>\n
Save your carrier’s claim reporting contact where managers can find it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n