On any given Sunday, you can see professional athletes take to the field, the court or the rink to play but have you ever wondered if they can receive workers’ compensation settlements?

The short answer is yes, they can receive workers’ compensation settlements.

The long answer, however, is that of course there are exceptions.

In some cases, professional athletes would be entitled to workers’ compensation settlements if they are injured on the job and unable to work. In fact, there isn’t anything in the Ohio Worker’s Compensation Act that precludes professional athletes from making a claim. After all, pro athletes have an employer, their team, and most employers in the state are mandated to provide coverage for employees.

However, many professional athletes might not be able to receive workers’ compensation settlements because many are members of a union, and many collective bargaining agreements provide that coverage. So they would not be eligible under the state’s coverage.

Also, if the athlete is an employee of a company not based in Ohio, they don’t have the right to file either. An example of this would be if the athlete is employed by, say, the National Football League or Major League Baseball.

Last year, the owner of the Cincinnati Bengals encouraged Ohio lawmakers to limit pro athletes in any sport – not just football – from receiving compensation from work-related injuries. He said athletes who applied for disability were double dipping if they are still actively playing sport, as many teams are self-insured.

While many people see professional athletes as wealthy – and many are – Ohio’s workers’ compensation system isn’t need based. What that means is your income doesn’t apply and anyone at any income level can file for benefits.

And some professional athletes aren’t as highly compensated as others, meaning workers’ compensation might be needed if an injury occurs on the job.

The fact is, pro athlete or not, if you are considering filing a workers’ compensation claim, you should consider hiring a highly skilled and knowledgeable attorney to represent you.

Connor Kimmet and Hafenstein LLP

If you have questions about filing a workers’ compensation claim, our qualified attorneys are here to help. Contact us today.