Accidents Inside Airports

Airplane crashes are far from common, yet they occupy the collective conscious of the airline-traveling world, with season after season of various television series exploring the details of infamous airline crashes.

Far more common than crashes-yet receiving far less fanfare-are the thousands of accidents that occur in and around airports each year, in which travelers and workers alike suffer serious injuries. Millions of passengers pass through Charlotte Douglas International Airport annually. Unfortunately, many people become injured while traveling through the airport. Some of the accidents resulting in injury are caused by airline workers, contractors, airport staff, or transportation authorities.

Common airport accidents include slip and fall accidents, escalator accidents, and accidents on rolling boarding staircases. Persons who suffer serious injury in an airport may have a right to bring a lawsuit for compensation. If a person has been injured at an airport, it is important to seek help from an experienced Charlotte personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Our professionals offer potential clients a free initial consultation to discuss a potential case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

In a recent case, a 24-year-old woman became permanently paralyzed from the waist down after an outside pedestrian shelter fell on her at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The woman told investigators that the last thing she remembered was walking off a plane, and the next moment she lay pinned to the ground under a heavy structure, the force of the impact severing her spinal cord.

An inspection revealed that the airport negligently maintained the shelter. It was missing 24 bolts and eight screws, which resulted in the shelter collapsing and falling on the victim. The woman filed a personal injury lawsuit against the city of Chicago and the Chicago Department of Aviation, alleging that the entities failed to properly inspect and maintain the shelter, which resulted in her injuries.

Slip and fall accidents are common at airports. In some cases, people slip and fall in a puddle of liquid while walking to catch a plane. In other cases, passengers slip on debris left in the walkway. Victims can file lawsuits against an airport or the contracting company responsible for maintenance of tarmacs. Airports have a duty to inspect their premises for dangerous conditions like puddles of water and other liquids. When they fail to warn customers of wet substances on the floor or clean up spills as quickly as possible to avoid accidents, they can be held liable for resulting injuries.

In many cases, the airline itself is liable for a victim's injuries. When an accident happens on an airplane due to the pilot's or the crew's negligence, the airline that employs the negligent individuals (in addition to the individuals) may be liable. Injuries caused by objects falling from improperly secured overhead bins may give rise to claims, as may incidents involving debris left in airline aisles.

When a person is injured in an accident in an airport terminal, in the airport food court, while walking from one gate to another, or while passing through security, the individual or individuals responsible for the negligence that caused injury may be liable, in addition to the entity that employed such person or persons-the airport, the city in which the airport is located, or a private company working within an airport.

Oftentimes, in cases involving dangerous conditions that ultimately led to an injury, a claimant has to prove that the at-fault persons knew or should have known of the dangerous conditions that caused an accident and failed to use reasonable care.

It is important to investigate and determine the correct defendants to name in any legal action. If a person sues the wrong entity, a court could dismiss the lawsuit, and the injured person could lose one's right to pursue damages. An injured person needs an experienced lawyer who will investigate the claim and help one file a lawsuit against the proper persons or entities. Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer maximizes a person's chances of receiving the compensation one deserves.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an incident at an airport, it is important that the injured person consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. The professionals at Arnold & Smith, PLLC have helped many clients throughout the greater Charlotte area recover compensation after slips and falls and other accidents at airports. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.