Former Pittsburgh Steelers Wins Work Injury Case against the NFL

When you get hurt on the job, you can claim workers’ compensation – even if that job takes place on the field. If you were injured at work, call the Delaware workers’ compensation attorneys of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in Newark, Wilmington, or Seaford.

A former NFL play, Anthony H. Trucks, won his workers’ compensation case against his employer, the NFL, for claims he should be paid as a year-round employee and not a seasonal employee. The win means his compensation for work loss benefits will be substantially more because a year-round employee is paid much more than a seasonal employee.

Law360 reported on January 3, 2020, that the former Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker was entitled to the year-round classification because his NFL contract required that he perform numerous non-football duties when the sporting season was over. The ruling was entered by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.

Mr. Trucks was injured in a 2008 pre-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was cut by the Steelers after that 2008 preseason game and never got to play during the season for the Steeler. He had a two-year contract that required participation in training camps, promotional appearances, and media interviews. These additional assignments indicated that the contract was a year-long contract and not a seasonal contract. In workers compensation cases, the injured player is entitled to payment for the time he can’t play football for certain preset time frames. The payments are based on the worker’s wages.

As a year-round employee, Mr. Truck is entitled to the appropriate workers’ compensation pay for year-round employees. For Mr. Trucks, his year-round workers’ compensation pay amounted to $807 per week. The year-round pay is higher than that of a seasonal employee. As a seasonal employee, Mr. Trucks was only entitled to about $400 a week.

The Commonwealth Court distinguished Mr. Trucks’ claim from comparable cases because of the additional requirements identified in Mr. Trucks’ contract. The court was not persuaded that the obligation in Mr. Truck’s contract and those of comparable football players who also suffered injuries– to refrain from playing for other teams outside the league during the off-season – affected their reasoning.

No explanation was given for why the case took 12 years to resolve.

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, our Delaware workers’ compensation lawyers fight aggressively to get you every dollar you deserve after a workplace accident occurs. We work to properly classify your injury as temporary or permanent and partial or full. We verify which wage base should be used. Our lawyers contest every effort to force you to return to work before you’re ready. Phone us at 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form to arrange a free consultation in Wilmington, Newark, or Seaford.