Do College Athletes Get Workers' Comp Benefits in Ohio?

Many people, especially parents, wonder whether college athletes, such as those in college athletics, are eligible for workers' compensation benefits.

After all, these student-athletes often face the same physical demands as professional athletes when they play sports.

With injuries being a regular part of college sports, it's a fair question to ask - "Are they entitled to the same protections as traditional workers?"

Why Are Student-athletes Not Considered Employees?

This is the big question at the heart of the issue. To get workers' compensation, an individual has to be considered an employee.

The problem is that, historically, college athletes have not been considered employees of their schools. Instead, they're seen as learners who play sports while pursuing their education.

Unlike professional athletes, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has long emphasized that student-athletes are amateurs, meaning they aren't paid directly for their athletic efforts.

However, as college sports become more profitable, the line between student and employee has become blurrier.

With student-athletes dedicating full-time hours to training, traveling, and competing, many argue they should be viewed as workers, just like anyone who represents their employer and works full-time.

After all, colleges and universities - "member schools" - make significant money from college athletics.

Student-athlete Employment Status and Workers' Comp

One of the reasons student-athletes don't get workers' compensation benefits is their employment status.

In Ohio, workers' compensation claims are tied to being an employee. Since the NCAA and many schools do not recognize student-athletes as workers, they can't claim these benefits when injured.

That means when a student-athlete gets hurt on the field, they must rely on health insurance instead of workers' comp. This can be tough, as health insurance doesn't always cover all medical expenses.

It might handle the cost of surgery or essential treatments, but what happens when recovery takes months? Professional athletes get workers' compensation, but student-athletes are often left in a gray area.

Some believe this needs to change, but the student-athlete employment status keeps them from receiving the same medical coverage as traditional workers.

The Role of the Supreme Court in This Debate

In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of student-athletes in a case involving educational benefits. This didn't directly address the issue of workers' comp, but it opened the door to more conversations about how student-athletes are treated.

The decision pushed for more fairness in how the NCAA operates, and since then, there's been increasing pressure on NCAA President Charlie Baker and others to reconsider student-athlete rights.

Though the ruling focused on monetary benefits, it sparked discussions about whether student-athletes should get more protections, including workers' compensation.

As more athletes push for change, the possibility of seeing student-athletes qualify for workers' comp might not be too far off in the future.

What Happens When College Athletes Get Hurt?

Currently, if a college athlete gets injured, their school's health insurance typically covers their medical expenses. However, this coverage might not be as extensive as what they'd get through workers' compensation.

In this event, if a student-athlete needs physical therapy for months after an injury, the health insurance plan might only cover part of the treatment, leaving them with hefty bills.

If college athletes were eligible for workers' comp benefits, they could file a claim and receive money for medical expenses, lost time, and recovery.

A workers' compensation claim would provide stronger protections for these athletes, treating their injuries like the on-the-job accidents they are.

This could help ease the burden of getting hurt while playing sports, something that's becoming more of a focus as athletes fight for better conditions.

Why Ohio Is Paying Attention to This Controversial Topic

The Buckeye State is home to many schools with successful college athletics programs, and Ohio's workers' compensation laws and insurance policies are something schools and lawmakers watch closely.

College sports bring in big money, and student-athletes are a crucial part of that.

As debates continue about whether student-athletes should be seen as employees, Ohio could become a significant state in shaping the future of college sports.

Student-athletes don't get workers' compensation benefits, but that could change with ongoing legal discussions and increasing pressure on the NCAA.

Athletes argue that they represent their schools on the field, put in full-time hours, and risk serious injury, so they should be entitled to the same protections as any other worker.

Can a Student-athlete Sue the At-fault Institution for Their Injuries?

Injuries are common in the world of sports. However, can a college-athlete hold their school responsible when they get hurt?

This is a tricky question. Most student-athletes assume that their health insurance or the school will cover their medical expenses, but what if the injury happened because the institution was at fault? Can they sue?

In most cases, student-athletes sign waivers before playing sports, making it hard to sue their school. These waivers typically protect the college or university from liability for injuries during games or practice.

Still, what happens if the injury happened due to unsafe conditions or negligence on the school's part? That's when things get complicated.

Student-athletes face an uphill battle when it comes to suing their institution. Legal barriers include the waivers they sign and the long-held belief that they are not employees.

However, in some cases, if an injury resulted from clear negligence or unsafe conditions, student-athletes may have a path to sue their institution.

Lawyers Can Help Students from Public Colleges Hold Their Institutions Accountable

Suing might seem daunting when a student-athlete gets seriously injured due to their institution's negligence.

This is where our Columbus workers comp attorneys come in. A skilled attorney can be a powerful ally in steering the complex legal system and protecting the rights of injured college athletes.

Proving Negligence

First, a lawyer can help determine if the injury resulted from negligence. This might involve investigating whether the academy failed to maintain safe facilities, provided inadequate medical care, or ignored known risks.

In this event, if a student-athlete suffered a serious injury because of poorly maintained equipment or dangerous field conditions, the lawyer would collect evidence to show that the institution was at fault.

Finding Loopholes

Next, an attorney can assist by challenging the liability releases that many student-athletes sign. These waivers often protect schools from lawsuits but aren't always ironclad.

A legal expert can review the case details to see if the fine print can be overturned, especially if the school acted recklessly or ignored its duty of care.

Building a Case

Additionally, a lawyer will handle the heavy lifting of building a solid case. They gather witness statements, medical records, and expert testimony to support the student-athlete's claim.

This can be essential, as many colleges and universities have large legal teams defending them.

The Bright Side: Professional Athletes Can Secure Workers' Compensation Benefits

Pro athletes dedicate countless hours to training, competing, and representing their schools on a global level.

While the debate continues over whether college athletes deserve workers' compensation, professional athletes already enjoy this protection.

When professional athletes get injured while playing, they're not left alone to handle mounting medical expenses or lost income.

Backed by countless endorsement deals, they can file a workers' compensation claim, which helps cover medical costs, rehabilitation, and lost wages while recovering.

This is because professional athletes are recognized as employees. They sign contracts, earn money, and are protected under labor laws just like any other worker.

Workers' compensation insurance benefits offer them peace of mind, knowing they're covered when injuries inevitably happen on the field.

The fact that professional athletes can secure these medical benefits shows that players, in general, are capable of being viewed as employees - something that college athletes are still fighting for.

Currently, this remains a privilege of the pros, but as the conversation around student-athlete employment status grows, many believe that college athletes might eventually see similar protections.

The Future of Pro Sports and Workers' Comp Benefits

The question of whether college athletes should get workers' compensation benefits in Ohio remains a hot topic. Right now, student-athletes don't qualify for workers' comp, mainly because they're not seen as employees.

However, with pro sports becoming more demanding - and profitable - many believe it's time for that to change. Our team can also answer questions like Do NFL players get workers' comp?

As academy athletics continue to grow, the debate around student-athlete employment status is gaining momentum.

The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions have brought more attention to how student-athletes are treated, and this conversation is not going away anytime soon.

College athletes work hard and risk their health to represent their schools. However, they don't have access to the same protections professional athletes do.

Final Words

Student-athletes in Ohio and across the country rely on health insurance to cover their medical expenses when they get hurt. The push for change is growing louder.

If college athletes were granted workers' comp, they would have greater financial security and better medical coverage when injuries occur.

The future of sports may look very different in the years to come. With ongoing discussions about student-athlete rights, there's hope these players will one day receive the protections they deserve.

Legal avenues may still be available, although clients aren't entitled to workers' comp benefits. A skilled lawyer can challenge the waiver, uncover evidence, and hold the college or university accountable.

Law firms like Larrimer & Larrimer allow student-athletes to stand up for their rights and demand fair treatment, especially when their institution fails to protect them.