how long after an injury do I have to make a workers compensation claim?

You should always report the injury immediately to your employer...even if you have no intention of filing a claim at the time. Many times injuries get progressively worse over time and then you could lose your job or get laid off in the mean time and wind up without anyone to file a claim against since your former employer has what is called a post-termination defense.

File the claim immediately. Find a good lawyer ...myself or someone like me, to send you to the right doctors and protect your interests through out your claim. Having a lawyer is not an act of disloyalty to your employer but smart business to protect yourself from the insurance company adjusters and their lawyers you will be dealing with throughout the claim.

You should file your claim as soon as possible to insure that you get proper medical care and to confirm that the injury indeed occurred on the job. The prior back issues will be apportioned through a doctor's final report which will determine what percentage of your permanent disability relates to the new injury.

I recommend you file the workers' compensation claim. Although it may not seem like much of an injury now and it may be related to an earlier problem, workers' compensation should be responsible for the portion of the disability that is related to this injury. If things don't get worse, you can drop the issue, but if things do get worse, you have protected yourself. Remember that workers' compensation is not a law suit against your employer...it is an insurance claim, no different than Blue Cross or Kaiser.

At some point, you may want to consult with an attorney. Find a good one here at www.avvo.com or at www.caaa.org. CAAA is the association for attorneys who represent injured workers here in California, or you can call me for a referral. Good luck.

Yes! from 1 injured worker 2 another.... It's not too late, just make sure when you write the date of injury down you write down the day you fill the injury report out on!! very important you do just that!!
and you write that your back hurt the other day an you told the employer, but today it started to hurt really bad. That way you won't have to explain why you didn't fill out an injury report the first time. It is really the empoyers responsibility to ask you to fill one out. When you fill it out make sure you don't specifiy on what part of you back hurts, because you not a doctor! all you know is your back hurts. because if you write lumbar and it turns out being your shoulders or thuratic then you won't get treatment. So just write Your BACK hurts, an let your doctor determine what parts. an when you find a doctor, make sure you get one you trust. you can get a chiropractor as a primary physician an then you will also get Massages!

check out my website it's all free.
an please email me, I have alot more to say about your question. Thanks, Shane..
It is usually free to speak to an attorney, there are lists of them on here.
If you still need help finding one go to mt website and click on attorney tab, it will link you directly to attorney's in your area.
www.freeinjuredworkeradvice.com