Orange County Women Athlete Injury Lawyer

Orange County Women Athlete Injury Attorney

Many different female sports leagues operate in the United States and Canada, and many female athletes from across California participate in these leagues. For example, women from California play in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), and many other leagues. These female athletes face injury risks every day during practice sessions and official games, and some injuries can lead to expensive medical bills and other economic losses.

Legal Representation for Injured Female Athletes in California

While most professional sports organizations offer extensive medical benefits to their contracted athletes, female professional athletes in California are still entitled to claim workers’ compensation benefits when they sustain injuries while performing their job duties. Sports like soccer, hockey, rugby, and basketball all present various injury risks. While the California workers’ compensation system exists to compensate workers who sustain injuries while performing their job duties, many claimants find the system difficult to navigate without legal assistance.

The California workers’ compensation attorneys at Leviton, Diaz & Ginocchio Inc. understand the difficulties facing many female athletes who have sustained injuries while playing sports, and we have the experience and resources necessary for guiding you through your workers’ compensation claims. In addition, professional athletes often face complex legal issues when it comes to addressing injuries sustained during games or practice sessions, and our team can provide the guidance you need to navigate these situations successfully.

Injury Risks for Female Athletes

Professional sports involve demanding physical performance and often pose risks of traumatic injuries. Some of the most commonly reported sports injuries among female athletes in California include:

• Concussions. These traumatic brain injuries can cause a host of symptoms, including severe headaches, sensory interruptions, heightened sensitivity to light and sound, confusion, and memory loss. Concussions also leave victims more susceptible to future concussions.
• Repetitive stress injuries. Most professional sports require incredibly demanding physical performance. As a result, female athletes are susceptible to many types of soft tissue injuries like tendonitis and sprains from repetitive physical activities. Some repetitive stress injuries can lead to long-term medical complications or even prevent an affected athlete from competing.
• Bone fractures. Falls and traumatic impacts during practice sessions and official games can easily cause bone fractures, some of which may require months to fully heal, resulting in permanent nerve damage and reduced flexibility.
• Muscle tears are serious injuries for any professional athlete. These severe injuries typically require surgical correction, and the affected muscles will be vulnerable to further injuries in the future.
• Cumulative injuries or injuries develop gradually over time due to the physical stress most female athletes endure throughout their careers. As a result, it’s common for some cumulative injuries not to manifest noticeable symptoms for a long time. Instead, symptoms may suddenly appear and seem mild and manageable until they worsen, resulting in potentially debilitating effects.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the injury risks facing professional female athletes in California. Some injuries sustained during practice and official games can heal with rest and appropriate treatment, and the injured athlete will be ready to return to active participation in their sport in a relatively brief time. However, for others, sports injuries can threaten their careers, and serious sports injuries can also result in long-term or permanent medical complications that lead to expensive medical treatment and other financial difficulties.

How to File for Workers’ Compensation

Filing for workers’ compensation is more difficult in practice than many people realize. For example, an injured professional female athlete may have several options for recovery from a sports injury, including medical treatment covered by her organization and other compensation benefits guaranteed with her contract. However, workers’ compensation is available when other recovery methods are inaccessible or insufficient for fully covering losses resulting from a sports injury.

The process begins with a claim form submitted to the California Department of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). The DWC will investigate the claim and review supplied documentation to determine the claimant’s eligibility for benefits. If the DWC approves the claim, it will award benefits based on the severity of the claimant’s injury and whether they face long-term medical complications from the injury. If you intend to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits in California, you must visit a physician approved by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The doctor will examine you and assign you a disability rating that the DWC will use to determine your eligibility and how long your benefits will continue.

What Can An Orange County Women Athlete Injury Attorney Do for Me?

Filing for workers’ compensation is a complex and tedious process. Additionally, female athletes under contract with professional sports organizations in California may have some contractual benefits that apply to their situations, or they may encounter other legal difficulties when it comes to securing workers’ compensation benefits for sports injuries.

An experienced California workers’ compensation lawyer can be invaluable to any female athlete struggling with the aftermath of a sports injury. This is especially true for potentially career-ending sports injuries that pose significant long-term medical complications. In addition, you may need reliable legal counsel in reviewing your contract with your sports organization, and your California workers’ compensation attorney can help you navigate the often-complex process of submitting your claim forms and the supplemental information required by the California DWC.

Each of the California workers’ compensation attorneys of Leviton, Diaz & Ginocchio Inc. has more than 20 years of professional experience and understands the unique challenges facing female athletes throughout California. When it comes to filing for workers’ compensation benefits after a sports injury, the team at Leviton, Diaz & Ginocchio Inc. can provide the legal guidance you need. Our firm can help you submit your claim forms and all required documentation to the California DWS, handle correspondence with DWS representatives on your behalf, and even help you address any unexpected complications you experience in dealing with your employer regarding your workers’ compensation claim.

If you are ready to file for workers’ compensation benefits in Orange County, CA, or any of the surrounding areas, Leviton, Diaz & Ginocchio Inc. is ready to assist you. Contact us today to schedule your case review with an experienced and reliable California workers’ compensation attorney for women athletes.