Even high paid football players are subject to workers’ compensation which bars workers from suing employers for work-related injuries and illnesses requiring all claims to go through the workers’ comp system.
Take the case of punter Brett Hartmann of the Houston Texans whose career came to a screeching halt when his foot caught between seams of in-laid grass on the field resulting in a severe knee injury. Although he was able to reach an undisclosed settlement with the convention center in a third party claim for the career-ending turf conditions, workers’ comp protected his employer from any liability for the accident.
Just like the rest of us, Hartmann is subject to workers’ compensation for his lost wages and medical care and all the rigmarole it entails. The football player’s income replacement limits are the same for any other worker – just $913 a week in Texas – which hardly puts a dent in the expenses for someone accustomed to a beefy NFL salary.
Of course, football players and injuries go hand in hand and, fortunately, many players have access to lawyers and financial advisers to navigate the complicated workers’ comp system. Even so, its often an uphill battle. Like so many who have had the misfortune of being injured on the job, they also have to fight for payments and medical care against denials of benefits by employers and insurers.
Whether you are employed in sports, construction or manufacturing, workers who suffer a debilitating injury or illness on the job expect that workers’ compensation benefits will be there when they need it the most. However, it often requires someone with knowledge and experience of the system to get things done.
If you have been injured on the job, the best advice is to seek the help of an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer to get the maximum benefits. The Des Moines, Iowa denied workers’ compensation team of Stoltze & Stoltze PLC can help if you are injured in a workplace accident or are suffering from a work-related illness. Contact us today at 515-244-1473 to get the benefits you are entitled to whether you are just beginning the process or have been denied benefits. We are here to help.
Source: Houston Chronicle, “What do working stiffs and NFL players have in common? Often, a fight for workers’ comp”, by L.M. Sixel, January 20, 2017.
