North Dakota Workers' Compensation Laws

An employee must notify their employer of a work-related accident within 7 days. Notice may be oral or written. The employer then has 7 days to file a first report with WSI.

Claims for death benefits must be filed within 2 years after the employee's death.

Report the injury to your employer within 7 days of the accident. Notice may be oral or written.

File a claim with North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance within 1 year of the injury. The employer must file a first report of injury within 7 days of receiving notice from the employee.

Nearly all North Dakota employers must obtain workers' compensation coverage through WSI (Workforce Safety & Insurance). Private insurance companies cannot write workers' compensation policies in North Dakota. Coverage applies to full-time, part-time, seasonal, and occasional workers.

Temporary total disability benefits pay two-thirds of the injured worker's pre-injury gross weekly wage, subject to an annual maximum set by WSI. Benefits begin after 5 or more consecutive days of disability. An additional $15/week is available per dependent child.

WSI pays for reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the work injury. Except for emergency treatment, all medical care must be provided by a physician approved by WSI. Employers may designate a list of medical providers for employees to choose from.

If an injured worker cannot return to their previous job, WSI provides vocational rehabilitation services including job retraining, education, and job placement assistance.

Employers may not discharge or discriminate against an employee for filing or intending to file a workers' compensation claim with WSI.