---
title: We had an employee get injured on the job, but the employee declined medical treatment. Are we obligated to report it to our workers' compensation carrier?
description: Learn why it's crucial to report workplace injuries, even if employees decline treatment, and how to navigate workers' compensation effectively.
image: https://insights.bukaty.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_248586955WorkersComp.jpg
---

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# We had an employee get injured on the job, but the employee declined medical treatment. Are we obligated to report it to our workers' compensation carrier?

Authored by  Bukaty Companies on Mar 30, 2026 11:37:22 AM

**A:** When a workplace injury occurs it’s important to properly document and report the incident, even if the employee chooses not to seek medical care. Follow best practice and report the incident to your workers’ compensation carrier as a record-only claim. This helps protect your organization if the employee later decides to seek care and prevents potential issues with late reporting. 

In situations where an injured employee declines care, employers should also ask the employee to sign a [declination of treatment form](https://insights.bukaty.com/hubfs/Work-Comp-Declination-of-Medical-Treatment-English-and-Spanish.pdf?utm_campaign=Quick%20Q&A&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--zefo57fLZ4kecUS4GthmZ6j9yEezYKbeVAZrYVXPWbGHJRFv-2xey5YLkpVJHxYzGrEx6). This ensures there is a clear record that the injury was reported, care was offered and the employee chose not to pursue treatment at that time.

Navigate your organization's workers' compensation program and injury management with confidence. From return-to-work outlines to monitoring your experience modification factor, our experts are here to help safeguard your organization every step of the way. [Connect](mailto:riskadvisor@bukaty.com)with a trusted business risk advisor today and get one step closer to safety.

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