Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that’s paid for by your employer and covers your medical and hospital expenses if you’re injured on the job. If you need to take time off from work due to your injury or work-related illness, workers’ compensation also pays a percentage of your wages.

In the state of Washington, you are obligated to notify your employer about your injury as soon as possible. Then they give you the information you need to know about getting workers’ compensation.

However, you have a time limit for filing a workers’ compensation claim. You must file a claim within one year after the day your injury occurred.

If you develop a work-related illness or medical condition, called an occupational disease, you have two years from the date a doctor or registered nurse notifies you in writing that you have an occupational disease.