Arizona Workers' Compensation: Fast Facts

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Coverage Requirements Under Arizona State Law

Any business with at least one part-time or full-time employee must provide Arizona workers' compensation insurance. However, state law also allows Arizona workers to voluntarily waive coverage prior to a work-related accident.

Work-Related Injury or Illness Reporting Requirements

Notify your supervisor as soon as possible of your work-related injury or illness, preferably within 24 hours. The sooner you notify your employer, the faster you can get medical care and lost pages covered by workers' compensation.

Where to Seek Medical Care

Which doctor you see for your work-related injury or illness depends on whether your employer is self-insured or not. Most employers in this state have the right to make you see the doctor of their choosing for your first visit. After that, it's possible you can see any doctor you wish to treat your injury or illness. Visit the Industrial Commission of Arizona's website for more info.

Waiting Period for Lost-Wage Benefits in Arizona

Your first week off is always unpaid unless your accident makes you miss more than 2 weeks of work. Once that happens, you'll receive compensation for those first 7 calendar days off. Your employer's insurer must begin payments or deny your Arizona workers' compensation claim within 21 days.

Arizona Workers' Compensation Statute of Limitations

Arizona state law gives you no more than one year from your incident date to file a workers' compensation claim.

Arizona Weekly Compensation Rate

You can receive 66 2/3% of Arizona's established average monthly wage for the current calendar year in workers' compensation benefits. This figure changes every year and is subject to the state's minimum and maximum amount limits.

How Long You Can Receive Arizona Workers' Comp Benefits

  • Medical benefits: unlimited
  • Death benefits: lump-sum payment of $5,000 for burial expenses + TTD payments until the surviving spouse remarries
  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD): until you reach maximum medical improvement or can return to work
  • Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): until you reach maximum medical improvement or can return to work
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): 50-75% of the average monthly wage based on Arizona's impairment schedule for a period of 2.5-60 months.
  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD): 75% of the state's average monthly wage for a set period of time under Arizona state law.

Arizona Workers' Comp Coverage Exemptions

The following employees are automatically exempt from workers' compensation insurance coverage under Arizona state law:

  • Casual employees
  • Domestic workers employed in someone's private home
  • Independent contractors
  • Federal employees
  • Sole proprietors

Arizona Workers' Compensation Attorney Fees

Arizona workers' comp lawyers cannot charge more than 25% of your final settlement award in legal fees. However, if your case doesn't win, you'll pay your attorney $0 under state law.