If an employee is injured on March 2, 2011, but not reported until March 4, when does disability begin?

Disability in the context of workers' compensation begins on the date the employee is unable to work due to the injury. In this scenario, the employee sustained an injury on March 2, 2011, which is critical in establishing the initial date of injury. However, the reporting of the injury plays a significant role in determining when the disability is formally recognized and when benefits might start.

Since the employee did not report the injury until March 4, this delayed reporting affects the official acknowledgment of the claim and can influence the timeline for disability payments. Under the California workers' compensation regulations, the date benefits commence is generally tied to the reporting of the injury. Therefore, disability benefits would typically start on the date the injury was reported, which is March 4, 2011. This aligns with the understanding that although the injury occurred earlier, the formal recognition and the initiation of benefits depend on when the employer is informed of the injury.

In summary, while the injury date is March 2, the disability for purposes of benefits starts on March 4, aligning with the reporting of the injury.