Can Professional Athletes File Workers’ Compensation Claims in Chicago?

Chicago is home to numerous professional sports teams, and many athletes in the city face the risk of serious injury every day. These include the Chicago Bears of the NFL, the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL, the Chicago Cubs of the MLB, and the Chicago White Sox of the MLB. There are also lesser-known sports teams, such as Chicago Fire FC of the MLS. Aside from men’s sports, there are plenty of professional women’s teams, like the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Professional athletes may consider filing workers’ comp claims in Chicago after suffering injuries. But is this even possible?

Most Professional Athletes Can File Workers’ Compensation Claims

We constantly hear news stories about players signing new contracts. Sometimes, the details of these contracts can be quite complex – and they can be worth millions of dollars. However, it’s important to understand that despite the role of contracts in professional sports, athletes are not “independent contractors.” Instead, they are employees of the teams they play for. The team itself is almost always owned by a corporation of some kind. In other words, there is no real difference between a professional athlete and any other corporate employee.

This is an important point, because it means that professional athletes are eligible to file workers’ compensation claims. This is something that all players should be aware of, as it is a valuable source of financial stability after an injury. The NFL Players Association encourages all injured players to file workers’ compensation claims after becoming injured, for example.

However, these cases are not always straightforward. Many players for the Chicago Bears have received considerable settlements for on-field injuries, including big names like Matt Forte and Brian Urlacher. These settlements prompted a new bill in 2017 that would have capped workers’ comp payments for athletes over the age of 35. It would have also prevented claims five years after injuries. However, this bill did not pass, and the NFL Players Association pushed back against it.

Pursuing workers’ compensation as a professional athlete can often be a complex affair. You may need to check the details of your contract, as some teams require players to arbitrate claims instead of going through the normal workers’ comp process. An experienced workers’ comp lawyer can be an asset in this scenario.

Can Workers’ Comp Lawyers in Chicago Help Professional Athletes?

A workers’ compensation lawyer in Chicago may be able to help professional athletes as they cover the cost of medical treatment and lost income. While many professional athletes earn impressive salaries, there is no sense in paying for medical treatment out of your own pocket if you don’t have to. Workers’ compensation can also be crucial if you suffer a career-ending injury, as every cent counts in this scenario. To learn more about your legal options, contact Connolly Injury Law today.

Sources: 

forbes.com/sites/legalnewsline/2018/03/20/life-after-the-chicago-bears-ex-players-have-collected-13m-in-workers-comp/

nflpa.com/active-players/faq/are-nfl-players-eligible-for-workers-compensation