NFL Players and Workers’ Comp

Thursday September 5th marks the start of the 100th season of NFL action. Injuries are nothing new in the NFL and are more or less considered a common occurrence. Getting compensated for these injuries should be just as common but sadly it isn’t. Here are a few facts about Workers’ Compensation for NFL players :

• Since the year 2000, there have been 458  Workers’ Compensation claims filed against the Chicago Bears by players (and a few off field employees) that have paid out just under $13 million dollars
• After retiring in the 90s with a severe ankle injury, shoulder injury and back injury, Former Green Bay Quarterback Don Majowksi had to file a workman’s comp claim in California (the only state that allowed FORMER players to file workmans’ comp claims even if they didn’t play for an in state team) in order to get his future medical covered.
• To date, the largest amount for a single injury in recent years was $400,000, given in 2014 to wide receiver Johnny Knox for the spinal injury that ended his career
• In Illinois the statute of limitations for an NFL player to file a claim is 3 years from the date of the accident or 2 years from date of last payment of compensation, including medical bills; whichever is longer. In Wisconsin the statute is 12 years from the date of injury or from the date the player last received benefits or should have received benefits.

It doesn’t matter whether you wear a blue collar, white collar or neck collar to work, You’re Entitled to Compensation

Not all workers’ compensation claims include the guys wearing Orange and Blue (or Green and Gold). All injuries occurring on the job should be treated with the utmost attention to detail. If you’ve experienced any kind of injury at work you need an advocate who knows how to respond and what steps to take.  For that kind of reliable representation, count on the knowledgeable Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca. Our attorneys have been helping injured workers and their families for many years and are ready to help you “tackle” anything the workers’ compensation system throws at you. To set up a free case evaluation, contact us at 312-724-5846 or through our website.