What to Do After a Workplace Injury: 7 Steps California Workers Should Take

TL;DR

A workplace injury can affect your health, work, and legal rights. Reporting the injury, getting medical care, and starting your workplace injury claim are important first steps. In this article, we explain what to do after a workplace injury and the steps California workers should take.

A workplace injury should not be something you try to ignore or work through. Your health should come first. If you have a serious injury, get emergency medical care right away. If the injury is less serious, tell your supervisor or employer and ask how to get medical treatment.

When you see a doctor or other medical provider, tell them that you were injured at work. This helps create a record of the injury and gives your doctor the information needed to treat you properly. You should also report the injury even if you think it is minor. Some injuries get worse over time or may not cause much pain at first. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 344,500 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among California private-industry workers in 2024. Of those cases, 224,100 involved days away from work, a job transfer, or work restrictions. These numbers show that some workplace injuries can affect a worker’s ability to keep doing their job.

At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we know that getting hurt at work can leave you worried about your health, your income, and your job. Getting medical care early can help you understand your injury and what you may need during your recovery.

Do not wait to report a workplace injury. Tell your employer what happened as soon as possible. In California, an injured worker generally has 30 days to report a work-related injury. Waiting too long can affect your workers’ compensation benefits. When you report the injury, explain when and where you were hurt and what you were doing at the time. If your symptoms developed over time, explain when you first noticed them and why you believe your work may have caused them.

Try to report the injury in writing when you can. If you send an email or text message, keep a copy for yourself. You should also keep a copy of any injury report you complete. Reporting a workplace injury gives you a record of when you told your employer and helps start the workers’ compensation process.

If you are not sure how serious your injury is, you should still report it. You do not need to wait until the pain gets worse or you know exactly what is wrong. We can help if you have questions about your rights after reporting a workplace injury.

After you report your injury, your employer should give you a workers’ compensation claim form. Fill it out and return it to your employer. The California Division of Workers’ Compensation explains that returning the completed form starts the workers’ compensation case and allows the process of reviewing your benefits to begin. Keep a copy of the form for yourself.

It is also a good idea to keep your other claim records in one place. These may include medical records, doctor’s notes, work restrictions, appointment details, and messages from your employer or insurance company. If your employer does not give you a claim form after you report your injury, ask for one.

We know that paperwork can feel very overwhelming, especially when you are already dealing with pain or missed work. Keeping your records organized can make it easier to explain what happened if questions come up later. It can also help you keep track of important dates and details about your injury.

Getting medical care is only the first part of dealing with a work injury. Follow your doctor’s instructions and go to your appointments. If your doctor gives you work restrictions, make sure you know what you can and cannot do at work. Let your doctor know if your condition gets worse or if you are having trouble doing your usual work. Keep a record of your appointments and treatment. It is also a good idea to keep track of any time you miss work because of your injury.

A 2026 RAND study for the California Department of Industrial Relations looked at how California’s medical treatment rules affected injured workers. The study found that some injured workers were 13% more likely to receive recommended physical therapy within the first 30 days after a policy change. It also found that the average wait for a first physical therapy visit dropped from 13.4 days to 11.9 days. These findings show that getting the treatment you need and keeping up with that treatment can be important after a work injury.

Keep your medical records and appointment information somewhere you can find them. If your doctor changes your treatment or gives you new work restrictions, keep those records too. This information can be useful later if there are questions about your injury, your treatment, or the time you had to miss from work.

After a workplace injury, it can be hard to remember every detail later. One of the best steps to take after a workplace injury is to write down what happened while you still remember it clearly. Include the date, time, and place of the injury. Write down what you were doing when you were hurt and the names of anyone who saw what happened.

Keep your injury report, claim form, medical records, work restrictions, pay information, and messages about the injury together. You should also keep track of how the injury affects your work. For example, write down if you cannot do a task you normally handle or if your doctor tells you to avoid certain activities.

A workplace injury claim can involve many documents and conversations. Keeping your records in one place can make it easier to explain what happened. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we can review the facts and records with you and help you understand your legal options.

Reporting a workplace injury should not lead to threats, unfair discipline, fewer hours, or losing your job because you used a protected right. If your employer’s behavior changes after you report your injury, pay attention to what happens. Keep emails, messages, and other records that may help show the change.

Not every negative action by an employer is illegal retaliation. The reason for the action and what happened around it can be important. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we can look at what happened before and after you reported your injury and help you understand your rights under California law.

If you think your employer treated you differently because you used a protected right, talk to an employment lawyer before assuming there is nothing you can do. Keep your records and write down important events while you still remember them. A workplace injury claim and a retaliation claim can involve different legal issues, so we can help you understand which rules may apply to your situation.

Not every person who gets hurt at work needs a lawyer. Many work injuries are handled through workers’ compensation. But some cases are not that simple. Your claim may be disputed. You may not understand the benefits you should receive. Your employer may treat you differently after you report your injury. There may also be another workplace issue that needs to be looked at.

A workplace injury lawyer can help you understand what options you have in these situations. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we represent employees in cases involving retaliation, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, whistleblower claims, and other workplace claims. If an employment problem comes up after your injury, we can review what happened and explain whether you may have a claim under California law.

It is also important to know that a workplace injury does not always mean you can file a personal injury lawsuit against your employer. Workers’ compensation usually covers injuries that happen because of your job. Other claims depend on the facts of the situation. We can help you understand which legal options may be available to you.

• Get medical care as soon as you can after the injury.
• Tell your employer about the injury as soon as possible.
• Fill out the workers’ compensation claim form and keep a copy.
• Keep your medical records and other papers related to the injury.
• Pay attention to how your employer treats you after you report the injury.
• If you are having problems with your claim or your employer, we can help you understand your legal options.

After a workplace injury, small details can become important later. Report what happened, follow your treatment plan, and keep your records. If your claim becomes difficult or your employer treats you unfairly after the injury, we can help you figure out what to do next.

Have questions about your workplace injury? Contact us here.