A Guide to Workers’ Comp for Injured University of Colorado Employees
Learn how workers’ compensation works for University of Colorado employees, including benefits, claim deadlines, and more
As the largest higher education institution in Colorado and one of the state’s top employers, the University of Colorado has about 48,000 employees, including more than 28,000 faculty and staff members across 4 campuses.
Whether you work as a professor, resident assistant, dining hall worker, custodian, laboratory technician, or administrative professional, workplace injuries and occupational illnesses can happen in virtually any role.
If you’re injured while working for the University of Colorado, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits under Colorado law.
However, the University also has its own reporting procedures, designated medical providers, and, for some eligible employees, additional benefits such as on-the-job injury leave (OJIL). Understanding how these programs work together can help you protect your rights and avoid unnecessary delays in your claim.
In this guide, we’ll explain how workers’ compensation works for injured University of Colorado employees, including who’s covered, what benefits may be available, how to report a work-related injury or illness, and when it may be appropriate to seek legal guidance.
If you have questions about your rights or encounter problems with your workers’ comp claim, contact our experienced work injury lawyers in Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, or Aurora for a free consultation.
Does the University of Colorado provide workers’ comp for injured employees?
Yes. Like most employers in Colorado, the University of Colorado provides workers’ compensation coverage for employees who suffer a work-related injury or occupational illness.
In general, you’re covered if:
- You’re an employee of the University of Colorado.
- Your injury or illness arose out of and in the course of your employment, meaning it occurred while performing work-related duties or resulted from conditions associated with your job.
Individuals who are not University employees, such as independent contractors, generally are not eligible for benefits under the University’s workers’ compensation program.
What types of injuries and illnesses are covered by workers’ comp at the University of Colorado?
Many different types of work-related injuries and illnesses are covered under workers’ comp, including:
- One-time injuries, such as back injuries, neck injuries, fractures, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), burns, lacerations, and joint injuries resulting from a specific workplace accident
- Repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendonitis, and other overuse injuries that develop over time
- Occupational illnesses and diseases caused by workplace exposures, including certain respiratory illnesses, certain cancers, hearing loss, vision loss, and other medical conditions that are directly tied to your job
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition or injury when work activities significantly worsen an existing condition
While workers’ compensation covers all of these types of injuries and illnesses, the key is being able to show that your condition is work-related.
This is often more straightforward after a single workplace accident than with repetitive stress injuries, occupational illnesses, or aggravation of a pre-existing condition, where proving causation may require additional medical evidence.
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What workers’ comp benefits does the University of Colorado provide after an injury or illness at work?
If your claim is approved, workers’ compensation may provide several benefits while you recover.
These may include:
- Medical benefits for authorized medical treatment related to your work injury or illness
- Mileage reimbursement for qualifying travel related to authorized medical treatment
- Temporary wage replacement benefits if your injury prevents you from working for more than 3 days or limits your ability to earn your regular wages
- Permanent disability benefits if your injury results in lasting impairment
- Disfigurement benefits for qualifying permanent scars, burns, amputations, or other visible disfigurement caused by a work-related injury
- Death benefits for eligible surviving family members when a work-related injury or illness is fatal
The benefits available to you will depend on the nature of your injury, your medical restrictions, and your ability to return to work.
What’s the difference between on-the-job injury leave and workers’ comp?
Many University of Colorado employees are surprised to learn that workers’ compensation and on-the-job injury leave (OJIL) are not the same thing.
Workers’ compensation is the no-fault insurance system established under Colorado law that provides benefits for medical care, wage replacement, permanent disability, and other benefits when an employee suffers a work-related injury or occupational illness.
On-the-job injury leave (OJIL), on the other hand, is an additional University benefit that is only available to certain eligible employees.
Rather than receiving the temporary wage replacement benefits typically available through workers’ compensation (generally about two-thirds of an employee’s average weekly wage), OJIL provides eligible University employees with 100% of their regular salary for up to 90 calendar days while they recover from a work-related injury or illness. During this time, employees can still receive other workers’ compensation benefits, including payment for authorized medical treatment.
The primary difference is that OJIL replaces the temporary wage replacement portion of workers’ compensation with the employee’s full salary.
If an employee remains unable to return to work after OJIL benefits end, standard workers’ compensation wage replacement benefits may apply, provided the employee remains eligible.
How do I file a workers’ comp claim with the University of Colorado?
If you’re injured while working for the University of Colorado, you’ll need to take certain steps and adhere to reporting deadlines to protect your right to workers’ compensation benefits. Here’s what you should do:
- Report the injury to your supervisor immediately. Colorado law requires injured workers to provide written notice to their employer within 10 days of the injury. Prompt reporting also helps the University begin the claims process.
- Complete the University’s required injury report. University employees should complete the Employee Injury Report Form and submit it to University Risk Management according to the University’s procedures.
- Seek medical treatment from an approved provider. For most non-emergency injuries, you must receive treatment from one of the University’s designated medical providers (DMPs) for your care to be covered under workers’ comp.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Attend all medical appointments, comply with prescribed treatment, and provide your supervisor with any work restrictions or return-to-work documentation.
- Keep copies of important documents. Save your injury report, medical records, work status reports, mileage records, correspondence, and any other documents related to your claim.
- File a claim with the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation. In addition to reporting the injury to the University, you should submit form WC 15, Worker’s Claim for Compensation, to the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation. Although you generally have up to 2 years to file the form, it’s best to do so as soon as possible.
University Risk Management administers the University’s workers’ compensation program and coordinates many aspects of the claims process, including reporting procedures, designated medical providers, and return-to-work issues.
If your claim is denied, you have questions about the process, or you need help negotiating benefits after a serious or catastrophic injury, reach out to a local Colorado workers’ compensation attorney to learn about your legal options.
Can I choose my own doctor after a work injury at the University of Colorado?
For most non-emergency work injuries, the University of Colorado requires employees to receive treatment from one of its designated medical providers (DMPs). You may choose any provider from the University’s designated list.
That provider then becomes your authorized treating physician (ATP), who oversees your medical care, determines work restrictions, and monitors your recovery.
If you’re unhappy with the provider you choose, you may be able to request a one-time change to another designated medical provider. However, the request must generally be made within specific time limits, so it’s important not to wait if you believe a different provider would better meet your needs.
Injured while working for the University of Colorado and need help with your claim?
If you’ve been injured while working for the University of Colorado and are having trouble obtaining benefits or you simply have questions about your rights, the experienced Denver workers’ compensation lawyers at Babcock Tucker are here to help.
Founding attorney Mack Babcock and member attorney Stephanie Tucker have spent more than 30 years representing injured workers throughout Colorado, including clients in Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Aurora. Their active involvement in organizations that advocate for injured workers, along with their leadership in education and legislative efforts, gives them a deep understanding of Colorado’s workers’ compensation system—knowledge they use every day to protect their clients’ rights and maximize the benefits they recover.
Contact Babcock Tucker today for a free consultation to discuss your claim and learn how we can help you pursue the full benefits available to you under Colorado law.
