With your workers comp denied, the appeal clock starts, and some windows run as short as two weeks. Miss your state's window, and the denial can stand. Call now, and a workers comp attorney in your state reviews the letter for free.
What to do when workers comp is denied
Call us first, before you sign anything or argue with the adjuster. The case review is free, and someone answers day and night.
Keep the denial letter and the envelope it came in. The dates on them can decide your deadline.
A workers comp attorney who handles cases in your state reads the letter and gets on it right away. You pay nothing unless you win.
The denial is the insurer's opening move, not the final word. You have the right to fight it, but only on time.
Your appeal deadline, by state
Each state sets its own window, and some are short. Ohio allows 14 days to appeal a decision. Texas gives you 15 days to appeal a hearing decision.
Pennsylvania gives 20 days to appeal a judge's decision. California allows 20 days to ask for reconsideration of a judge's decision. New York and Arizona each allow 30 days to challenge a judge.
Washington gives 60 calendar days to protest a decision. Massachusetts is the outlier, with 4 years to appeal after the insurer's denial notice. More state detail lives on workers comp by state.
Several of these windows are for appealing a judge's decision. The deadline on an insurer's denial letter can be different, and the letter itself states that date. A call to us is how you know for sure which date applies.
Find your state's window below, then paste your denial letter into the box under it.
| State | Time to appeal a decision |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Ask for review of a judge's award: 30 days |
| California | Ask for reconsideration of a judge's decision: 20 days |
| New York | Appeal a judge's decision: 30 days |
| Ohio | Appeal a BWC order: 14 days |
| Pennsylvania | Appeal a judge's decision: 20 days |
| Texas | Appeal a hearing decision: 15 days |
| Virginia | Appeal a Full Commission opinion to court: 30 days |
| Washington | Protest or appeal a decision: 60 days |
What does my denial letter mean?
You get back who sent it, what it decides, the dates, and the deadline it states.
The deadline on that letter is running. Call now and an attorney goes over it with you for free.
Call about my letter(866) 460-1510Why workers comp claims get denied
Late notice is the excuse insurers reach for first. Texas and Georgia want notice within 30 days, and Michigan allows 90. Pennsylvania wants notice within 21 days for full back pay.
Written notice with a date carries more weight than a quick text to a supervisor. Insurers look hard at that paper trail.
The second excuse is "not work related." The insurer claims the injury happened at home or came from an old condition.
The third is a missed exam with the insurer's doctor, or a report from that doctor that cuts against you.
Timing rules bind the insurer too. In New York, the insurer must dispute the claim within 18 days after the disability begins.
The appeal, step by step
- Call us for the free case review. An attorney in your state starts on the denial right away.
- Find the decision date on the letter and mark the deadline.
- Let your attorney request the claim file and the medical reports the insurer used.
- Keep going to your own doctor. Those records help tie the injury to the job.
- Your attorney files the appeal or hearing request before the deadline. In Texas, the first step is a benefit review conference.
- Go to every exam and hearing, and keep copies of everything you send.
Some states use a longer ladder. In Massachusetts, a dispute can move through 5 steps, from conciliation to the reviewing board.
When a lawyer changes the result
A lawyer helps most when the fight is over medical proof or a late-notice excuse. They know which forms the agency wants and which reports carry weight.
Even a workers comp claim denied over paperwork turns on the right forms, filed on time. One missed date can cost you the whole claim.
The fee comes only out of money recovered, and state law caps it. Read more on what a workers comp lawyer costs, or see what to do when payments stopped.
Questions injured workers ask
Why would a workers comp claim get denied?
Insurers most often point to late notice or say the injury is not work related. Some lean on a missed exam with their doctor. The letter should state the reason it is using.
What happens if workers comp is denied?
The insurer stops paying or never starts. You can fight the denial through an appeal or a hearing. Call us first so an attorney can file it on time.
Who pays my medical bills if workers comp is denied?
Until the denial is overturned, your health insurance or you may have to cover care. If you win, the workers comp insurer usually has to pay the bills it should have paid.
How long do I have for a workers comp appeal?
It depends on your state, and some windows are very short. Your denial letter states its own date, which can differ from the time to appeal a judge. Call us so an attorney can confirm your exact date.
What should I not say to workers comp?
Do not guess about how it happened or say you feel fine when you do not. Stick to what happened, when, and what hurts. Call us before you give any recorded statement.
Does it cost anything to have a lawyer review my denial?
No. The case review is free, and the attorney is paid only out of money recovered. State law caps that fee.
Reviewed 8/16/2026