Colorado Workers' Compensation Calculator
Calculate your workers' compensation benefits including temporary disability pay, permanent disability rating, and medical cost recovery. Our calculator applies your state's specific benefit rates, waiting periods, and settlement rules under Colorado's specific laws.
What's My Colorado Case Worth?Quick & easy · Takes 2 minutes · 100% free
In Colorado, you generally have 2 years to file a workers' compensation claim. What your case is worth depends on your specific damages and Colorado's laws. Use the calculator below for a free estimate of your low-to-high range.
Key Colorado Laws
| Filing Deadline | 2 years in line with the national average of 1.8 years |
|---|---|
| Negligence System | Modified Comparative Fault (50% Bar) |
| Max Weekly Benefit | $1,299 Above avg ($1,243) |
| TTD Rate | 67% of wages No fixed week limit |
| Waiting Period | 3 days Retroactive after 14 days |
| Employer Notice Deadline | 4 days Must report injury to employer within this period |
| Vocational Rehab | Available State provides job retraining benefits |
How Colorado Law Affects Your Workers' Compensation Case
Colorado's workers' compensation benefits are available regardless of who caused the workplace injury. Colorado's negligence rules become relevant only if you pursue a separate third-party claim — for example, suing a equipment manufacturer or a negligent contractor alongside your workers' comp claim.
The statute of limitations for this type of claim in Colorado is 2 years — in line with the national average of 1.8 years. This is a standard timeframe, but acting sooner preserves evidence and strengthens your position.
Colorado pays temporary total disability (TTD) benefits at 67% of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $1,299 per week. This maximum is above the national average of $1,243. Colorado does not impose a fixed week limit on TTD benefits, allowing them to continue as long as you remain unable to work.
Colorado relies on the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 3rd Edition to assess permanent impairment. Your treating physician or an independent medical examiner assigns a whole-person impairment rating, which is then converted into a disability benefit amount. The specific guide version used in Colorado can produce ratings that differ meaningfully from those in states using different editions.
Your first obligation after a workplace injury in Colorado is to notify your employer within 4 days. This is not the same as filing a workers’ compensation claim — it’s a prerequisite. Even if you are unsure whether your injury is serious enough to require workers’ comp benefits, it is safer to report it within the 4-day window. Late notification is a common reason claims are disputed or denied.
Colorado’s workers’ compensation system includes vocational rehabilitation benefits for workers whose injuries prevent them from returning to their former positions. This can include career counseling, job retraining programs, tuition assistance, and transitional work placement. These benefits are separate from your disability payments and represent an important resource for long-term recovery and financial stability.
Colorado Workers’ Comp Settlement Chart
These are the inputs the settlement formula (rate x weeks x rating) uses in Colorado: the weekly compensation rate and its cap, the weeks and waiting rules the state applies, and the guide that sets the impairment rating.
| Wage-replacement (TTD) rate | 67% of average weekly wageTemporary total disability, paid while you cannot work |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,299The weekly ceiling, whatever your wage |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $260The weekly floor for low earners |
| Waiting period | 3 daysPaid back if disability lasts past 14 days |
| Maximum TTD weeks | No fixed limitNo statutory week cap recorded |
| Maximum PPD weeks | No fixed limitNo statutory week cap recorded |
| Impairment rating guide | AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 3rd EditionSets the impairment percentage in the formula |
The formula is rate x weeks x rating. On a $1,200 average weekly wage, Colorado's 67% rate gives a $800 rate, below the $1,299 maximum. One hundred scheduled weeks at a 10% rating turns that into $8,000. Your own wage, your body part's scheduled weeks and your rating replace every placeholder here; the figure is an illustration, not a prediction for any claim.
- Average weekly wage (placeholder)
- $1,200
- Compensation rate (67% of wages)
- $800, below the $1,299 maximum
- Scheduled weeks (placeholder)
- 100 weeks
- Impairment rating (placeholder)
- 10%
- Permanent partial award in this example
- $8,000
Read more: Workers' Comp Settlement Chart · How Much Does Workers' Comp Pay
How Does Colorado Compare?
Colorado Workers' Compensation FAQs
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Legal Disclaimer
This calculator uses Colorado's statutes as of 2026-09-22. Laws change frequently. This tool provides estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current rules with a Colorado-licensed attorney before making decisions about your case. Learn about our methodology.
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What's My Colorado Case Worth?