How Long Does Workers’ Comp Take? (A 2025 Guide)

The Basics of Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance for workers who suffer work-related injuries. It offers help with covering expenses the worker experienced because of their injuries.

By accepting workers’ compensation, you waive your right to sue your employer. Workers’ compensation benefits vary from state to state, but the federal government oversees the insurance program. Workers’ compensation isn’t taxable.

Available Benefits

With workers’ compensation, you have the chance to get coverage for medical expenses. These can compensate you for all reasonable medical care that you need to recover from your workplace injury. In cases involving complex surgeries like spinal fusion, the compensation may also include extended rehabilitation costs and additional medical treatments required for full recovery.

You can also receive partial wage compensation, which your state will calculate based on your weekly salary average. For example, California will pay two-thirds of your average salary. If you can’t return to work, you can claim permanent total disability as well.

Workers’ compensation also covers death expenses if a worker dies because of their work-related injuries. Family members can recover the benefits that the person would have received if they had lived.

Workers’ Compensation Eligibility

Most employers throughout the country are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. It needs to cover all employees, including those who are part-time and full-time workers, as well as trainees.

Texas is one of the only states that doesn't require private employers to carry workers’ comp insurance. There are other workers’ comp exemptions, though, especially related to government employees.

If your employer has workers’ compensation insurance and you suffer a work-related injury, you are likely eligible to claim workers’ comp.

When Does Workman’s Comp Start Paying? Understanding the Process

One of the best things about the workers’ comp process is that you can receive medical benefits immediately. Once you let your employer know of your injuries, they will tell you which healthcare provider to go to, depending on their insurance coverage. Your employer’s insurance will take care of your medical expenses.

When does workers’ comp start paying lost wages? That happens right after your claim is accepted, which can take at least a couple of weeks. The exact time period in which workers’ comp will offer a settlement will depend on the state in which you file. For example, Massachusetts gives insurance companies 14 days to investigate.

Before you receive the first payment for lost wages and other benefits, you will be sent a notice letting you know whether your claim was accepted or denied. All too often, people are faced with a denial.

Why Workers’ Comp Claims Are Denied

There are a number of reasons why a claim could be denied. Insurers will look for any reason to keep from paying you, and that can include claiming you’re not an employee but an independent contractor or even a consultant.

If it’s impossible for them to claim that because you have a contract, they may try claiming that you caused your own injuries. And if you don’t present sufficient evidence, they could deny you based on that as well.

Sometimes, it may even be your employer who claims your injury was not work-related or that your injuries only happened because you broke company protocols. In all of these instances, you need a lawyer to help gather evidence or even file a lawsuit.

How a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Can Help You

How long does workers’ comp take? You may find yourself asking this question repeatedly as days pass and you continue struggling with bills. You may not know what your options are or what you should be doing to help your claim.

How you should proceed can be summed up in three words: hire a lawyer. With a workers’ compensation lawyer helping you, you have a better chance of quickly getting the help you need and deserve.

But when should you hire a lawyer, exactly? It’s helpful to get a lawyer from the start so that the process goes as smoothly as possible, but you can get representation at any point. If you are facing an appeal because you’ve been denied, the right thing to do is to hire an experienced lawyer.

A lawyer will be able to effectively negotiate with your employer’s insurance company to get you a fair settlement. If they deny your claim, your lawyer will gather the evidence to help prove your injuries are work-related and correctly file all of the paperwork related to the appeal.

They offer all of the support that you need throughout the process, no matter how long it takes. Best of all, these lawyers don’t cost anything up front.

Contact Workers’ Compensation Lawyers After a Work Injury

Those who are struggling with injuries and the financial strain of lost wages have many questions and concerns. You’ll likely wonder things like, “How long does workers’ comp take?” and “When will I receive my workers’ comp check?”

There’s no straight answer here because of the complexity of a system that differs based on individual state rules. What you should know, however, is that having a lawyer helping you will make the process smoother and quicker.

At ConsumerShield, we offer legal counsel so that you can get answers to your questions about the workers’ compensation process. While some lawyers may prioritize their own interests, we can connect you with dedicated professionals who will offer the tenacious assistance you need. Contact our team at ConsumerShield to help you through the tough workers’ comp process.