Get medical care
For an emergency, call 911 or go to an emergency room. Tell the medical staff if the injury happened at work. For non-emergency care, ask your employer about the treatment arrangements for a work injury.
Report the injury
California DWC tells workers to report an injury as soon as possible. Do not wait to see whether paperwork arrives before telling your supervisor. If you are unsure about a reporting deadline or have already waited, ask DWC or a workers’ compensation attorney about your situation.
Note when you told your employer, who you spoke with, and how you contacted them. Keep a copy of any written report or message. These notes do not replace the claim form.
Request a claim form
An incident report at work and a workers’ compensation claim form serve different purposes. Ask your employer for the DWC-1 form and read its instructions. Our DWC-1 overview links to the state’s current forms.
Write down what happened
- Write down the date, location and work activity involved.
- Record who you told and when.
- Keep copies of forms, treatment instructions and letters.
- List questions you want to ask your employer, claims administrator or DWC.
If you are unsure about a detail, mark it as uncertain in your notes.
After reporting the injury
Start a claim document folder and keep the next letter you receive. If you cannot get a form or do not understand what happens next, use our official help directory.