Nevada Workers' Compensation: Fast Facts

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Coverage Requirements Under Nevada State Law

Most Nevada businesses with at least one employee must carry workers' compensation insurance. However, there are always some exceptions - see our list of automatically exempt workers that don't have coverage below.

Work-Related Injury or Illness Reporting Requirements

Notify your employer about your work-related illness or injury as soon as possible, or within 7 days, in writing. Your employer should then file a c-3 form with their insurer within 7 days to start your claim. Then, your employer's insurer must tell you if they approve or deny your claim within 30 days of notification.

Where to Seek Medical Care

If you have a life-threatening medical emergency, seek urgent care at the nearest ER, hospital, or healthcare facility. Otherwise, you must see an employer's insurer-authorized doctor for ongoing medical care. Unless it's an emergency, ask your employer which doctor can treat you before you seek medical attention. Going to an unauthorized provider for care could leave you stuck with paying those bills yourself.

Waiting Period for Lost-Wage Benefits in Nevada

Your first 4 days off work are always unpaid unless you're out for at least 5 days total due to your incident. (These 5 days don't have to be in a row; 5 days of missed work in any 20-day period still counts.) On the 6th day you must miss work, you'll qualify for lost-wage benefits that cover your first 4 unpaid days off. Your employer's insurer must start those payments on the 14th day after your reported incident. If you can go back to work less than 5 days after your accident, workers' compensation only pays your medical bills.

Nevada Workers' Compensation Statute of Limitations

You have 90 days from your job injury or illness diagnosis date to file your Nevada workers' compensation claim. This is the shortest workers' compensation statute of limitations of any U.S. state.

Nevada Weekly Compensation Rate

You can receive 66 2/3% of Nevada's average monthly wage, subject to the state's maximum and minimum benefit amounts.

How Long You Can Receive Nevada Workers' Comp Benefits

  • Medical benefits: unlimited
  • Death benefits: $10,000 for funeral and burial expenses plus TTD payments until the surviving spouse dies, plus survivor benefits for eligible dependents
  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD): duration of disability or until you go back to work
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): lump-sum payment calculated using your disability date, PPD evaluation results upon reaching maximum medical improvement, current age, and wage amount
  • Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): 2/3 the difference between your pre-injury and post-injury earnings for up to 24 months
  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD): TTD payments for the duration of disability, but may be reduced by 10% if you receive a PPD lump-sum payment

Nevada Workers' Comp Coverage Exemptions

The following employees are automatically exempt from Nevada workers' comp coverage:

  • Agricultural employees
  • Casual workers employed for no more than 20 days or paid up to $500 in labor costs
  • Domestic servants
  • Federal employees
  • Independent contractors
  • Railroad workers
  • Volunteers

Nevada Workers' Compensation Attorney Fees

All Nevada workers' compensation attorneys work on contingency. This means you only pay legal fees for a successful case. If you don't win, then you owe your workers' comp attorney $0. State law says that if you dispute your claim or are denied benefits, you have 70 days to appeal. You can contact a local attorney to handle your appeal or the Department of Business & Industry Relations/Workers' Compensation Section for assistance. The Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers (NAIW) organization can also represent your appeals case to the Hearing Officer or Appeals Officer for free.