The California workers’ comp system is being taken advantage of according to professional sports leagues. Many players are filing for workers’ compensation benefits through the California system. Many of the players never played for a California team but can still file a claim in California if they can argue that the injury took place while competing in the state. The claims first started around 2007. Since workers’ comp is paid for by the employers, not by taxpayers, leagues such as the NFL are disputing the claims. Since California is one of the 9 states that allow workers’ comp benefits for “cumulative trauma” injuries such as carpel tunnel syndrome. This could be particularly bad for the NFL which has 3 teams in California and an issue with brain trauma due to repeated hits to the head. The total of cumulative trauma claims by athletes are said to total $747 million. This will in no way affect workers comp insurance rates for any businesses other than sports teams. ( LA Times)
