2024 Arizona Workers’ Compensation Regulations

Posted in Workers' Compensation on January 2, 2024

Almost every worker in Arizona has specific rights when it comes to receiving compensation after a workplace injury. In general, workers’ compensation benefits will pay for all medical coverage related to a workplace injury as well as a major portion of lost wages if an employee is unable to work while recovering. Here, we want to review the 2024 Arizona workers’ compensation regulations.

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What to Expect After a Workplace Injury

The Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) is responsible for ensuring workers’ compensation laws are enforced in the state. When an employee sustains a workplace injury, they file their workers’ compensation claim with the ICA.

In the state of Arizona, employers are responsible for the following:

Carrying workers’ compensation insurance.
Giving employees the insurance provider’s name, address, and other important information if they sustain an injury.
Notifying insurance providers and the ICA about any injury incident in the workplace within 10 days of being informed about the injury and completing the necessary paperwork.
Cooperating with any investigations into the workers’ compensation claim.

Employers who violate their responsibilities under Arizona workers’ compensation laws can face fines and even the closure of their business. If an employer fails to carry insurance, they could face ICA penalties as well as civil lawsuits directly from any employee who sustained an injury during the time when there was no insurance.

Work Injury Reporting Deadlines

Any workplace injury or illness should be promptly reported to an employer. However, the overall workers’ compensation statute of limitations in Arizona is one year from the date the workplace injury or illness occurs or one year from the discovery of an injury or illness.

If a work injury victim fails to file their claim within this one-year time frame, they will likely no longer be eligible to recover any compensation for their losses.

What Benefits Are Available

There are various types of benefits available to injured workers in Arizona through workers’ comp, including:

Medical Benefits: Covers all necessary medical expenses related to the work injury or illness. This encompasses hospital and medical bills, medication costs, and any required therapy or rehabilitation.
Temporary Disability Benefits: Provides financial support to employees unable to work temporarily due to their injury. These benefits are a portion of the employee’s average monthly wage prior to the injury.
Permanent Disability Benefits: Offered to employees who sustain injuries resulting in permanent disability, preventing them from returning to their previous employment. The amount depends on the severity and type of permanent disability.
Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits: These are applicable to employees who need retraining or education to qualify for another job due to their inability to perform their previous job functions.
Death Benefits: In cases where a work-related injury or illness results in death, the employee’s family members may be entitled to compensation. This typically includes a portion of the deceased employee’s wages and may cover funeral and burial expenses.

If you have sustained a workplace injury but are struggling to recover compensation, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney today. A Phoenix workers’ compensation attorney can walk you through this process and help protect your rights. You deserve the compensation afforded to you through Arizona law, and we want to help.

Avery N Crossman

Ms. Crossman is a State Bar Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist and is past Co-Chair of the State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section. She has served as a faculty member at the State Bar Seminar on Professionalism and is a former Judge Pro Tempore in the Arizona County, Justice, and Superior Courts. In the past, she has spoken at seminars on Workers’ Compensation sponsored by the Industrial Commission of Arizona and the Arizona Association of Lawyers for Injured Workers. Ms.Crossman is a long-time member of the Arizona Association of Lawyers for Injured Workers. She is also a member of American Mensa.