Athletes cash in on California's workers' comp

[jsr]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-proathletes-workers-comp-20130223,0,149599.story

Athletes cash in on California's workers' comp
Over the last three decades, California's workers' compensation system has awarded millions of dollars in benefits for job-related injuries to thousands of professional athletes.
By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times
5:00 AM PST, February 23, 2013

SACRAMENTO — In his seven-year career with the Denver Broncos, running back Terrell Davis, a former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, dazzled fans with his speed and elusiveness.

At the end of his rookie year in 1995, he signed a $6.8-million, five-year contract. Off the field he endorsed Campbell's soup. And when he hung up his cleats, he reported for the National Football League Network and appeared in movies and TV shows.

So it may surprise Californians to find out that in 2011, Davis got a $199,000 injury settlement from a California workers' compensation court for injuries related to football. This came despite the fact Davis was employed by a Colorado team and played just nine times in California during an 88-game career, according to the NFL.

Over the last three decades, California's workers' compensation system has awarded millions of dollars in benefits for job-related injuries to thousands of professional athletes. The vast majority worked for out-of-state teams; some played as little as one game in the Golden State.

[FarPoint]

1. The same rules apply to all injured workers.

Each state has their own worker comp laws, but essentially are similar. The employer pays into this fund...their risk is prorated thus the Team owners payout huge amounts in worker comp fee rates. They may be self insured as well....

A good California Workers Comp lawyer could explain this.

[Auggie]

2. Meanwhile, pro sports reaps billions

[Sedona]

3. Workers Comp is not tax money, its an insurance pool funded by employers.