🏗️ Workers Compensation

What to Do After a Workplace Injury in Nevada

By John Quigley · NevadaAttorneyFinder.com · Updated May 27, 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. NevadaAttorneyFinder is a directory, not a law firm.

Nevada's workers' compensation system provides benefits to injured workers regardless of fault — but only if you follow the right procedures. Missing key deadlines or making procedural mistakes can result in denial of your claim. This guide explains what to do after a workplace injury in Nevada.

6 Steps to Take Immediately

Report the Injury to Your Employer Immediately

Nevada law requires you to report a work injury to your employer within 7 days (NRS 616C.015). Ideally, report the same day. Tell your supervisor directly and follow up in writing (email or text) so there is a written record. Your employer is required to provide you with a C-1 Form (Notice of Injury) to complete. Keep a copy of everything you submit.

💡 Tip: Even if your injury seems minor, report it. Repetitive stress injuries, back injuries, and injuries that worsen over time all start with the initial incident. A delayed report raises questions about whether the injury actually happened at work.

Seek Medical Treatment — Use an Authorized Provider

Nevada workers' compensation requires you to treat with a physician authorized by your employer's insurer (an MCO — Managed Care Organization) for your initial treatment. If you treat with an unauthorized provider (your own doctor), those bills may not be covered. In a medical emergency, go to the nearest ER — emergency treatment is always covered. Non-emergency treatment must use the MCO's approved network.

💡 Tip: Ask your employer or their insurer for the list of authorized providers before making any non-emergency appointments. Using the wrong provider is a common and costly mistake.

Complete a C-4 Form with Your Treating Physician

The C-4 (Physician's Report) is the formal documentation of your work injury. Your treating physician completes this form and submits it to your employer's insurer. Make sure the description of how the injury occurred in the C-4 matches what you told your employer. Inconsistencies between the C-1 (your report) and the C-4 (doctor's report) are used by insurers to deny claims.

💡 Tip: Describe your injury mechanism accurately and specifically: 'I lifted a 50-pound box from a floor-level shelf with my arms extended and felt immediate sharp pain in my lower back.'

File a Formal Claim (C-3) Within 90 Days

The C-3 (Employee's Claim for Compensation) must be filed with your employer's insurer within 90 days of the accident or within 90 days of when you knew or should have known the injury was work-related (NRS 616C.020). Missing the 90-day deadline can result in denial. File even if you're not sure you'll need long-term benefits — you can always settle or close the claim later.

💡 Tip: The 90-day clock starts from when you knew the injury was work-related. For occupational diseases (hearing loss, carpal tunnel), the clock may start from your diagnosis date, not the original exposure.

Follow All Medical Restrictions and Attend Appointments

Comply with all doctor's restrictions — don't return to full duty work activities if you've been placed on light duty or modified duty. Missing medical appointments and ignoring medical restrictions gives the insurer grounds to deny or reduce your benefits. Keep detailed records of every appointment, every medication, and every work restriction.

💡 Tip: If your employer offers light duty work that is within your medical restrictions, you are generally required to accept it or lose your temporary total disability (TTD) benefits.

Consult a Workers' Comp Attorney If Your Claim Is Denied or Disputed

If your claim is denied, your benefits are terminated, your permanent disability rating seems too low, or your employer is pressuring you to return to work prematurely, contact a Nevada workers' compensation attorney. Workers' comp attorneys typically work on contingency with fees regulated by the state — you pay nothing unless you recover additional benefits. Time limits for appeals are strict — don't delay.

💡 Tip: Even if your claim was accepted, consulting an attorney when you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) to review your permanent disability rating is often worth doing — insurers frequently undervalue permanent impairments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my employer doesn't have workers' compensation insurance?

All Nevada employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance (NRS 616B.627). If your employer is uninsured, you can still file a claim through the Nevada Uninsured Employers' Claim Account (UECA). Your employer also faces criminal penalties. An attorney can help you navigate this situation.

Can I be fired for filing a workers' comp claim in Nevada?

Retaliation against an employee for filing a workers' compensation claim is illegal in Nevada under NRS 616D.120. If you are fired, demoted, or otherwise penalized for filing a workers' comp claim, you may have a separate wrongful termination or retaliation claim in addition to your workers' comp case.

What is 'light duty' and do I have to accept it?

Light duty or modified duty is work that is within your medical restrictions — less physically demanding than your regular job. If your employer offers light duty work that your treating physician approves as within your restrictions, you generally must accept it or lose TTD benefits. If the offered work is outside your restrictions or demeaning, consult an attorney before accepting or refusing.

How is a permanent disability rating calculated in Nevada?

Nevada uses the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) to calculate permanent partial disability (PPD) ratings. Your treating physician assigns a whole-person impairment percentage at Maximum Medical Improvement. This percentage is converted to a PPD award through a formula under NRS 616C.490. Ratings are frequently disputed — independent medical evaluations are common.

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