Airport Accidents Can Be Serious and Costly

Airport accidents are common and can range from minor incidents to ones with serious injuries.

21:46 26 August 2024

Airports are almost bustling, even in the middle of the night. Flights are constantly coming in and taking off and this plenty of people milling about—add in the airport employees, and you can easily feel like you’re never alone. 

While you expect the hustle and bustle, it doesn’t mean you’re prepared to be involved in an accident. Airport accidents are common and can range from minor incidents to ones with serious injuries.

Pursuing compensation for airport injuries is your legal right. However, you also want to follow a few simple steps. Omitting these steps may mean you’re paying for any damages out of your pocket.

Common Types of Airport Accidents and Injuries

Airport accidents can happen inside the terminal or outside. Slippery floors caused by rainy weather or spills can lead to slip-and-fall accidents. Passengers and visitors can experience strains and sprains. 

These injuries aren’t always caused by lugging around heavy luggage. You can sprain an ankle on a properly marked curb or tripping over an unattended electrical cord. Other common airport accident injuries can include:

• Head injuries, including TBIs (traumatic brain injuries)
• Neck injuries, including whiplash. A fast-moving airport passenger train or even a plane executing a jerky takeoff or landing can cause whiplash and other types of neck injuries.
• Bone fractures and breaks. These types of injuries are common in slip-and-fall accidents.

Your airport accident may even cause psychological distress like mental anguish and symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Whatever the cause of your airport accident and resulting injuries, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. 

If you’re thinking about filing a personal injury claim, you’ll want to follow a few steps immediately following the accident. Your next steps can impact everything from your ability to file a claim to your compensation amount.

Steps to Take Immediately After an Airport Accident

Regardless of the severity of your airport accident, you should plan on taking the following steps, even if you’re not sure if your accident is severe enough to file a claim.

Immediately Report the Accident

Don’t wait to report an airport accident, even if your plane is boarding. You can always catch another flight and waiting to report the accident can damage the credibility of your claim. If you wait to report the accident, the insurance company can question if the incident even occurred. Without an official accident report, you may not be able to file a personal injury claim.

Who do you report the accident to? All airports have robust security teams and plenty of personnel. You can report the accident to any airport staff and they can direct you to the right department or individual. You’ll fill out an incident report and answer some questions about how the accident occurred and details of your resulting damages.

You should receive a copy of your incident report before leaving the airport. If your injuries are severe, your incident report can be filled out in your hospital room. Some airport accidents leave victims unable to file a report for a few days. 

Don’t worry, airport accidents resulting in serious injuries must be reported and investigated. This means your report is being filed while you recover from your injuries. Make sure to save a copy of the report, you need it to file a claim for your damages.

Visit a Healthcare Provider

Most airports have medical staff on site. The exception may be small private airports. If you’re involved in an airport accident, your well-being should be a primary concern, which means seeing a healthcare provider even if you believe your injuries are minor. Even a small contusion can turn into a more serious injury without medical treatment.

If your injuries aren’t serious enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room, you still want to make an appointment with your primary healthcare provider. This applies even if you’re checked over by airport medical staff. Your primary care provider usually has access to more advanced diagnostic tools.

Save all copies of your medical records, including any bills, receipts, and prescriptions. These expenses are usually recoverable but you need to provide supporting documentation. If your injuries are severe and you require long-term or lifetime care, you’re probably going to need to supply expert medical testimony to receive compensation for these current and future expenses.

Try to Document the Accident Scene

If your injuries require immediate medical attention, don’t worry about documenting the accident scene; let the authorities handle this while you focus on your health. However, if possible, try to take some pictures of the scene. The camera app on your cellphone or tablet is more than enough for this task. You’re only taking pictures of the area and not trying to win any photo awards.

If there are any witnesses to your accident, get their contact information. However, don’t discuss any details about your accident. The airport’s insurance company is also going to interview any witnesses and you don’t want your words used against you. This advice also applies when you’re talking to the authorities. Be truthful when answering their questions but don’t go into detail.

Who’s Liable in an Airport Accident?

Determining liability in an airport accident can be challenging. Your claim may even list multiple at-fault parties. The airport may be liable or the maintenance company. Most airports contract out their maintenance work. An employee may be responsible for your accident or a vendor like an airport retail store or restaurant.

Where your accident happens can help determine liability. For example, if you trip over a restaurant chair and sprain your ankle. The restaurant is usually liable in this scenario instead of the airport. Who’s liable for your accident can also affect the statute of limitations, which is the time you have to file a claim after being injured in an accident.

Since there’s a lot to consider before filing a personal injury claim after an airport accident, it’s usually best to work with an attorney. From determining liability to filing your claim, an attorney can handle the legal details so you can focus on your recovery.