Opinion ID: 2623443
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Law On Compensable Injuries

Text: [¶ 14] An employee is required to timely notify his employer of an injury and file an injury report with the Division. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-502(a) (LexisNexis 2003). A failure to timely report the accident or injury as required by statute is a presumption that the claim shall be denied. § 27-14-502(c). The statutory reporting requirements do not begin to run until the employee becomes aware that an accident has caused an injury; and the term injury as used in the compensation statutes means compensable injury. Rice v. State ex rel. Wyo. Workers' Safety and Comp. Div., 2001 WY 21, ¶ 13, 19 P.3d 508, ¶ 13 (Wyo.2001); Wesaw v. Quality Maintenance, 2001 WY 17, ¶ 10, 19 P.3d 500, ¶ 10 (Wyo.2001); Baldwin v. Scullion, 50 Wyo. 508, 530-31, 62 P.2d 531, 539 (Wyo.1936). [¶ 15] Our law on determining the date of a compensable injury is well-established. Rice, ¶ 13; Bemis v. Texaco, Inc., 401 P.2d 708, 709 (Wyo.1965). We have consistently held that when a correct diagnosis or prognosis of present or likely future disability is communicated to the claimant, the injury is discovered, it is compensable, and the statute of limitations begins to run. City of Casper v. Haines, 886 P.2d 585, 589 (Wyo. 1994) (citing Aanenson v. State ex rel. Worker's Comp. Div., 842 P.2d 1077, 1081-83 (Wyo.1992) (discussing this Court's decisions regarding compensable injury)). [W]hen determining the time a particular injury became compensable, it should be asked: When would a reasonable person, under the circumstances, have understood the full extent and nature of the injury and that the injury was related to his or her employment? Aanenson, 842 P.2d at 1082. This question necessarily requires a careful evaluation of all facts to determine when an employee reasonably understood the nature and seriousness of his condition and that it was work-related. [¶ 16] Our previous decisions have never burdened an employee with filing claims for trivial injuries to avoid timeliness issues. Big Horn Coal Co. v. Wartensleben, 502 P.2d 187, 188 (Wyo.1972) (citing Potter v. Midland Cooperatives, Inc., 248 Minn. 380, 80 N.W.2d 59, 61 (1956)). The employee, however, may not ignore these requirements for compensable injuries because notice requirements and the statute of limitations exist to allow employers to investigate claims, monitor medical care, and avoid stale claims. Sherwin-Williams Co. v. Borchert, 994 P.2d 959, 964 (Wyo.2000). The finder of fact is charged with determining the time and cause of a compensable injury; however, whether an employee's claim is to be barred for failure to timely file notice or a claim is a mixed question of fact and law. Aanenson, 842 P.2d at 1080.