Hurt at Work in Colorado: What to Do in the First 24 Hours
Injured on the job in Colorado? The practical steps for the first day: getting care, telling your employer, keeping records, and where to find the workers' comp rules.
If you're hurt at work in Colorado, the first 24 hours come down to three things: get the right level of medical care, tell your employer as soon as you can, and write down what happened. The rules for workers' comp in Colorado, including deadlines and who chooses your doctor, are set by the state, and the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation is the place to check them.
This post is practical, not legal advice. Here's what to do, in order.
1. Get the right care first
If the injury is serious, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. Paperwork can wait; see the red flags in the box below.
For everyday workplace injuries, like a sprain or strain from lifting, a cut that may need stitches, a minor burn or a sore back, urgent care is usually the right place. Before you go, ask your employer where they want you to be seen. In Colorado, employers often direct injured workers to particular medical providers, and going somewhere else can complicate a claim. If you can't reach anyone and you need care now, get care, and tell your employer as soon as you can.
2. Tell your employer, in writing
Report the injury to your supervisor the same day if you can, even if it seems minor. An ache that seems like nothing on Monday can be hard to explain on Friday. A short email or text works: the date, time, where you were, what you were doing and what hurts. Keep a copy. Colorado has deadlines for reporting a work injury; the Division of Workers' Compensation can tell you what they are.
3. Write it all down while it's fresh
- What happened, step by step, and exactly where
- Names of anyone who saw it
- Photos of the area or equipment involved, if it's safe to take them
- Who you reported it to, and when
- Every medical visit, and copies of the paperwork you're given
4. At the visit: say it's work-related
Tell the front desk right away that the injury happened at work, and bring your employer's name and any claim or insurance information they've given you. A clinician examines and treats the injury and can complete work-status paperwork: whether you can go back to work, and with what restrictions, such as no lifting over a certain weight. Hand that form to your employer and follow the restrictions; they protect both your recovery and your claim.
Be complete about your symptoms, including ones that seem minor or show up later. Follow-up visits are common with work injuries, so expect to be asked to come back.
Where do I find the Colorado workers' compensation rules?
Questions about whether an injury is covered, how to file, deadlines, choosing or changing doctors, lost wages or a denied claim belong with the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation, part of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. It publishes the rules and has guidance for injured workers and employers. Your employer's workers' comp insurance carrier is the other key contact. For legal questions about your rights, talk to an attorney; we can't advise on claims.
For employers: occupational medicine at AfterOurs
AfterOurs offers occupational medicine: work-injury evaluation and treatment, work-status and restriction forms, follow-up visits, drug screens and employment physicals. Occupational medicine requires an employer contract with AfterOurs, so it needs to be set up before you send employees. If you run a business in metro Denver and want a clinic open into the evening for your team, the employer page explains how to start that conversation.
If you're an employee, ask your employer whether they have an arrangement with us before you come in for a work injury, and follow their instructions.
Call 911 or go to the ER if… there's heavy bleeding that won't stop with pressure, a head injury with confusion, vomiting or passing out, a fall from height, a neck or back injury with numbness or weakness, a crush injury, a bone pushing through the skin or an obviously deformed limb, a severe burn or any electrical or chemical burn, chest pain, trouble breathing, a chemical splash in the eye, or an amputation. Call 911 rather than driving yourself.
Where to find us
Four clinics across metro Denver, all ages welcome, se habla español:
- Hampden (Southeast Denver): 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Littleton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Thornton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Highlands: Mon–Fri 5–11 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–11 PM
Walk in, or book online.
Medically reviewed by Peter Martinuzzi, MD
This article is general health information, not medical advice for your situation. If you are worried, come in or book a telehealth visit — and if it is an emergency, call 911.