Workers' Compensation

Workers' Compensation Hearings

The Office of Administrative Courts (OAC) conducts hearings for workers' compensation cases in Colorado. Cases are heard by Administrative Law Judges at the OAC offices in Denver, Colorado Springs, or Grand Junction. Usually, hearings are held at the OAC office closest to where the injured worker lives.

Employees who are hurt at work in Colorado are eligible for workers' compensation benefits, including medical treatment, lost wages, and permanent disability benefits. If there's a disagreement between the injured worker and the employer (or the employer's insurance company) about the benefits in a claim, either party can request a hearing with the OAC.

In workers' compensation hearings, the injured employee is called the "claimant," and the employer and insurance company are called the "respondents."

• Most hearings take place 120 to 180 days after the Application for Hearing was filed. 
• Hearings can be held in person at an OAC office or by video.
• The evidence in a workers' compensation case usually includes witness testimony and documents such as medical and employer records. All documents must be exchanged with the other side at least 20 days before the hearing.
• Hearings can be as short as 30 minutes or take several days, depending on the issues. Most hearings last 2 to 3 hours.

The judge listens to witnesses and reviews the documents and other evidence but usually doesn't decide the case on the same day. Instead, the judge will issue a written decision within 15 business days after the hearing. 

The parties may settle some or all the issues before the hearing. If the parties cannot resolve the issues, they will attend the hearing and present their evidence to the judge. 

Do I Need a Lawyer?

In most workers' compensation cases, both sides have lawyers. But a lawyer is not required. If you don't have a lawyer and choose to represent yourself, you must know the workers' compensation law, follow the OAC Rules of Procedure, and be ready to present your case at the hearing. Learn more about representing yourself at a workers' compensation hearing. 

OAC Clerks

While a case is pending at the OAC, the OAC clerks are the main point of contact for anyone involved in the case. The OAC clerks handle tasks like scheduling hearings, organizing case files, processing legal documents (such as motions), sending out the judge's decision, and processing appeals.

The clerks can give you general information about your hearing and procedures, but they cannot give you legal advice. This means:

• The clerks cannot interpret the law for you.
• They cannot tell you how to prepare your case.
• They cannot tell you what evidence to submit or what witnesses you may need. 
• They cannot tell you how to win your case.

OAC Forms

The OAC has standard forms for parties involved in a case. These forms are used for things like:

• Requesting a hearing
• Confirming a hearing date
• Requesting an interpreter
• Canceling hearings
• Asking for transcripts or audio recordings of the hearing
• Appealing the judge's decision

These forms ensure that everyone follows the right procedures and the necessary paperwork is completed for each stage of the case. You can find all the OAC forms on the Forms Page.

More Information

You can find more information about workers' compensation hearings on our Frequently Asked Questions page.