All serious professional sports involve a certain amount of risk. Even umpires and referees face occasional danger. Fortunately, if they are injured for any reason, professional players, umpires and other personnel should be able to receive financial compensation as long as their employer has workers’ compensation insurance. This sort of insurance can help to pay for unexpected medical costs and the financial burden that can result from being unable to work. Many professional umpires are members of a union and can seek help through their local. A workers’ compensation attorney can also provide useful legal help and advice. The World Umpires Association (WUA) The World Umpires Association is the renamed body that exists to protect the interests of umpires in Major League Baseball (MLB). The original association set up in 1970 was the Major League Umpires Association. Like many other trade unions that are involved in professional sport, the main emphasis is on collective bargaining for better pay and conditions for MLB umpires. The current labor contract between the WUA and the MLB is due for renegotiation at the end of 2019. Potential Injuries Experienced by Baseball Umpires Umpires may not take part in a baseball game, but the job is still quite physical and there is a real danger of being hit by a baseball at any time. A direct hit by a baseball can be crippling if it hits the umpire in the face. Eye and brain injuries are possible. A high speed baseball can crack the umpire’s skull and the injury may be hard to treat. Umpires spend a lot of time standing and crouching and may suffer back strain after repetitive matches. Lower back strain is hard to successfully treat, although symptoms can be relieved by simple techniques. Slip, trip and fall injuries can lead to strains, sprains and breakages, particularly arm and leg bones as the umpire ends on the ground. What to Do If You Have Been Hurt On the Job as an Umpire An injured umpire may be replaced by another umpire or associate at short notice, but if the injuries are significant, the umpire may be determined to file a claim for compensation. The first priority for any injured worker, including a MLB umpire, is to get medical attention or treatment as soon as possible. Accident reports can wait. However, the injured umpire or a responsible player or other witness should inform the MLB supervisor as soon as is practicable. A workers’ comp. claim will not succeed unless there is sufficient evidence that the injury took place while at work. That means that a report should be filed before the cutoff date as this report will help the inured umpire when the claim is eventually filed. Useful contacts are the local union rep. and a workers’ comp. attorney. Either of these, or both, can be contacted at any point. Why Contact an Attorney An attorney may not be used at all in the early stages of a claim, although they can provide very useful advice about how to go about filing a claim. If the claim is denied for any reason, it will be almost impossible to successfully appeal without an attorney. Additional Resources Why Should I Get a Workers’ Compensation Attorney? How Much is Your Claim Worth? *Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against your employer, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
