Sports & Entertainment Injuries

Workers in the sports and entertainment industries are, generally, more susceptible to injury than other employees, due to the physically challenging nature of the work, as well as long hours spent in repetitive and potentially dangerous activities.The Law Firm of Rowen, Gurvey & Win has represented a wide variety of workers in the fields of sports and entertainment, who have suffered either a specific injury (an injury occurring from a specific one-time event) and who have suffered injury due to continuous and prolonged repetitive work (a continuous trauma [CT] injury).On television and film sets, Grips, Gaffers, Electricians, Painters, Set Designers, Laborers and other crew members often have to move, lift and/or carry heavy equipment. Also, they often have to work at heights, making them prone to fall injuries. Cumulative trauma injuries, from everyday wear and tear, to the back, neck, shoulders, knees and wrists are very common.

In front of the camera, stuntmen and athletes are putting their bodies at risk of catastrophic injury every day they work. They can also suffer serious cumulative injuries over time, from the physical nature of what they do for a living.

Because of the pressure to keep working, those in the sports and entertainment field often ignore pain without getting adequate treatment. This makes sports and entertainment workers especially prone to the development of serious cumulative/repetitive trauma injuries. Many times these injuries result in the worker developing a chronic pain syndrome.

One of the most common issues with cumulative trauma injuries in the entertainment and sports industries is having to deal with more than one employer during the last year before the injury is claimed. Under California Labor Code §5500.5, all employers during this period are responsible for workers’ compensation benefits. The workers’ compensation insurance company whom insures thee most recent payroll company/employer will usually be brought into the workers compensation claim first. Subsequently, after learning the identity of other employers the injured worker had worked for, their insurers will also be joined in the matter. Having several defendants can make the case more procedurally complex and challenging to resolve. The attorneys at Law Firm of Rowen, Gurvey & Win has vast experience in dealing with these multiple employer situations. Our vast experience often times makes an important difference — in both the time it takes to get the injured worker his/her benefits and results.

Professional hockey, football, basketball and baseball players may not be aware that the California Workers Compensation Appeals Board generally has jurisdiction over their cumulative trauma injuries. If a professional athlete has played even one game in the state of California, or entered into their employment contract in the State of California. Labor Code §3600.5 provides the general rules for filing workers’ compensation claims, on the athletes behalf. Injured athletes (and workers in general) can file a workers’ compensation claim up to one year after it was discovered that there was disability caused by their employment. However, this period of time can be extended in some cases if the employer did not provide the player with a workers’ compensation Claim Form and legally required notices. Serious long-term sports related injuries, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (brain injuries), traumatic arthritis, complex orthopedic injuries, and internal injuries may not be fully detected, let alone diagnosed, for many years, at which time professional athletes might not even be aware of the process and that valuable compensation and lifetime medical care is available under California law.

For over 35 years, the Law Firm of Rowen, Gurvey & Win has been known for its aggressive representation of their clients. The firm brings this expertise to the unique issues facing sports and entertainment industry workers today. Just as entertainment personnel and professional athletes have excelled in a most competitive environment in their own field, and committed themselves to standing out above the crowd, our law firm has made these same commitments, with the expertise and skillset necessary to successfully represent injured workers.

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of our website for further information on the California workers’ compensation system and the benefits to injured workers, provided under the California workers’ compensation laws.

For further information and a free consultation , please contact us: (818) 981-9960.