Falls in the Workplace: How to File a Successful Workers’ Comp Claim

Posted in Workers' Compensation on June 16, 2026

Key Takeaways

Falls in the workplace rank among Arizona’s most common and costly work-related injuries.
Workers’ comp in Arizona covers medical treatment and lost wages after a workplace fall.
Injured workers must file a claim within one year of the injury or its discovery date.
Delayed reporting or missed deadlines can jeopardize an otherwise valid Arizona workers’ comp claim.
Legal representation strengthens the outcome of claims involving disputed injuries or insurers.

Every year, thousands of Arizona workers step onto a job site, a warehouse floor, or a retail corridor and walk away with injuries that change the course of their lives. Falls in the workplace are among the leading causes of serious work-related harm across the country, and Glendale workers face these risks across construction sites, distribution centers, healthcare facilities, and retail floors every day.

At Crossman Law Offices, we help injured workers throughout Arizona understand their rights and pursue every benefit available after a fall on the job.

Common Hazards Leading to Falls in the Workplace in Glendale

Glendale’s economy spans construction, distribution, healthcare, and retail, and each industry creates its own distinct set of fall risks. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, workers’ compensation and medical costs associated with workplace falls amount to an estimated $70 billion annually in the United States.

The most common sources of a slip and fall at work in Arizona can include:

Wet or uneven flooring, unattended spills, and freshly mopped aisles without signage
Cracked or uneven concrete in loading areas and parking structures
Workers on scaffolding, ladders, or warehouse racking are exposed to falls from elevation
Poorly maintained equipment, absent guardrails, and inadequate lighting in stairwells

Falls resulting in shoulder injuries carry especially serious long-term consequences. The National Library of Medicine notes that the shoulder is among the most movable and vulnerable joints in the body, susceptible to dislocations, rotator cuff tears, fractures, and sprains from sudden impact. These injuries regularly require surgery, extended rehabilitation, and significant time away from work.

Immediate Legal and Medical Steps After Falls in the Workplace

What a worker does in the hours and days immediately following a fall has a direct impact on the strength of a worker’s comp claim. Missteps during this critical window are among the most common reasons valid claims are disputed or reduced by insurance carriers.

Taking the right steps from the start protects both the injury and the claim:

Seek Medical Care Immediately: A documented medical record is essential evidence in any workers’ comp case.
Report the Incident in Writing: Notify a supervisor the same day it occurs, as a written record prevents disputes about whether the fall was reported.
Use Appropriate Medical Providers: Seeking treatment from the appropriate medical provider after a workplace fall can help protect both your health and your workers’ compensation claim. Understanding your employer’s workers’ compensation procedures may help avoid unnecessary disputes or delays.
File a Claim With the Arizona Industrial Commission: An injured worker must file in writing within one year of the injury or its discovery, and missing that deadline typically forfeits the right to benefits entirely.
Preserve Evidence: Gather witness information and photograph the hazard that caused the fall before it is altered or removed.
Contact a Glendale Workers’ Comp Attorney: Legal guidance from the start helps injured workers avoid the missteps insurers count on to reduce or deny valid claims.

Please read: Can I Sue Workers’ Comp For Pain And Suffering

Navigating Your Claim for Falls in the Workplace

Filing a claim is only the beginning. Once submitted, the employer’s insurance carrier evaluates the injury, the medical records, and the circumstances of the fall. That process is rarely neutral, and insurers have clear financial incentives to limit payouts.

One situation that requires special attention is the unexplained fall. Arizona workers’ comp law requires that an injury arise out of and in the course of employment, meaning the worker must show the fall was connected to a job-related risk, such as a crack in the pavement or a slippery surface. A fall alone is not always sufficient to establish a compensable claim.

Carriers routinely dispute wage calculations, challenge medical necessity, or attribute symptoms to a pre-existing condition. For workers with serious injuries from falls in the workplace, those tactics can mean reduced benefits or outright denials. A Glendale workers’ comp attorney can counter that resistance early and represent the worker through any hearings that follow.

Why Choose Crossman

A workplace fall is disorienting enough without also having to navigate Arizona’s workers’ comp system alone. At Crossman Law Offices, we help injured workers across Glendale and Arizona build solid claims for falls in the workplace, handle insurer resistance, and pursue every benefit available under the law.

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