How Long After an Accident Do I Have to Report it to My Employer?

Hurt on the job in Gettysburg or elsewhere in Adams County? You must report your accident to your employer. That is a requirement of our state’s workers’ comp laws. Injured workers technically have 120 days to notify their employer, but there are advantages to doing so even earlier. Here, our Gettysburg workers’ compensation attorney explains the key points to know about your duty to report an accident to your employer in Pennsylvania.

The Deadline: 120 Days

You need to notify your employer that you were hurt while on the job. Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Act requires injured workers to report their injury within 120 days of the accident. This deadline is strict. If you fail to notify your employer within that period, you can lose your right to benefits entirely under 77 P.S. § 631. The rule applies to any workplace injury, whether it occurred in a single moment or over a shift. Employers must have notice before the insurance carrier becomes legally obligated to provide coverage. The 120-day rule exists to ensure prompt documentation, investigation, and medical evaluation.

Early Reporting is Better (Do it Within 21 Days When Possible)

While 120 days is the technical limit to report work-related injury under Pennsylvania’s workers’ comp, the law also includes a separate 21-day rule. If the worker reports the accident within 21 days, benefits become payable from the date of injury. If the worker waits until day 22 or later (but still within 120 days), compensation begins only from the date the injury was reported. The difference can make a big difference in the total amount of wage-loss benefits an injured employee receives. Be proactive: Report your accident to your employer as soon as possible.

How to Properly Notify Your Employer

Under Pennsylvania law, workers can report their injury verbally or in writing, but written notice is always safer. When doing so, it is best practice to identify the date, time, and place of the injury. Describe what you were doing and how the injury occurred. Among other things, you should provide the name of any coworkers who witnessed the accident. Include information about when symptoms first appeared. To be clear, Pennsylvania law does not require technical language. You simply need to communicate that the injury is work-related.

Reporting Your Accident/Injuries Puts Obligations on Your Employer

Once notice is given, the employer must file a First Report of Injury with its insurance carrier. It triggers the insurer’s obligation to investigate. If the employer refuses to document the report or discourages reporting, contact an attorney immediately. You can still protect your rights even if your employer mishandles the notice. If you run into any issues with this part of the process, an experienced Gettysburg, PA workers’ comp lawyer, can help.

Set Up a Free Consultation With Our Gettysburg Workers’ Comp Attorney

At DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger, P.C., our Gettysburg workers’ comp attorney has the knowledge and experience that you can trust when it matters most. Have any questions about reporting your accident? Contact us today for your free, completely confidential, and no obligation case review. With an office in Gettysburg, we represent injured workers throughout the region.