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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81142</law_id><section_number>65.2-600</section_number><catch_line>Notice of accident</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>65.2-101</reference><reference>65.2-405</reference><reference>65.2-602</reference><reference>65.2-900</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="65.2">Workers' Compensation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="6">Notice of Accident; Filing Claims; Medical Attention and Examination</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Every injured employee or his representative shall immediately on the occurrence of an accident or as soon thereafter as practicable, give or cause to be given to the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> a written notice of the accident. If notice of accident is not given to any statutory <span class="dictionary">employer</span>, such statutory <span class="dictionary">employer</span> may be held responsible for initial and additional <span class="dictionary">awards</span> of compensation rendered by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> if (i) he shall have had at least sixty days&#x2019; notice of the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> to ascertain compensability of the accident, and (ii) the statutory <span class="dictionary">employer</span> was not prejudiced by lack of notice of the accident. <a id="paragraph-290816" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-600/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The notice shall state the name and address of the employee, the time and place of the accident, and the nature and cause of the accident and the <span class="dictionary">injury</span>. <a id="paragraph-290817" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-600/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The employee shall not be entitled to physician&#x2019;s fees nor to any compensation which may have accrued under the terms of this title prior to the giving of such notice, unless it can be shown that the <span class="dictionary">employer</span>, his agent or representative had knowledge of the accident or that the <span class="dictionary">party</span> required to give notice had been prevented from giving notice by reason of physical or <span class="dictionary">mental incapacity</span> or the <span class="dictionary">fraud</span> or deceit of some third person. <a id="paragraph-290818" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-600/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> No compensation or medical benefit shall be payable unless such written notice is given within thirty days after the occurrence of the accident or death, unless reasonable excuse is made to the satisfaction of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> for not giving such notice and the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> is satisfied that the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> has not been prejudiced thereby. <a id="paragraph-290819" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-600/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> No defect or inaccuracy in the notice shall be a bar to compensation unless the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> shall prove that his interest was prejudiced thereby and then only to such extent as the prejudice. <a id="paragraph-290820" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/65.2-600/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 65-82, 65-83; 1968, c. 660, &#xA7;&#xA7; 65.1-85, 65.1-86; 1991, c. 355; 1997, c. 288.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
