Airplane Injury Lawyers

Falling Luggage

It is estimated that more than 4,000 travelers are hurt each year as the result of falling luggage, boxes, and other carry-on items. Some luggage can weigh-in at over 50 pounds, and heavy bags stored in overhead bins can cause serious harm to passengers in the event that the contents in the overhead bins shift or fall out. These heavy items can cause serious damage to hands, feet, arms, and legs. It is up to the airline’s flight attendants to make sure that all carry-on luggage are properly secured before taking-off.

Neglecting a Medical Emergency

There are over 40,000 medical emergencies on flights around the globe each year. In most cases, in-flight crew members are trained to act quickly and responsibly, but some are not adequately trained for these situations and a medical emergency can be improperly handled or neglected.

Airline passengers travel inside a pressurized metal tube zooming through the air at 600 miles per hour, and 30,000 feet above the ground.  Even in the event of an emergency, it could take the pilot up to 30 minutes to land. That is why flight attendants are required by law to be trained in, and administer basic first aid. Without this training, passengers lives could be at risk.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Airplanes can suddenly shift at any given moment, making the small aisles on an aircraft very dangerous places to be. These sudden movements can cause a person to slip, trip or fall — resulting in a serious injury. Objects such as luggage on the floor, or unmarked steps in the aisle can be injury risks as well.

The airline company is also responsible for the proper maintenance of the jetbridge — the tunnel connecting the airport to the airplane. When these areas are not maintained, tripping hazards can form, causing a passenger to fall.

Even if you’re not sure if you have a claim or not, we recommend discussing any incident and your injuries with an experienced airplane injury attorney who understands in-flight accidents. Contact one today.

Burns and Serving Cart Injuries

Serving Cart Accidents

If you’ve ever had your hand or elbow sticking out in and airplane aisle, you know how painful an unexpected serving cart can be. Unsecured serving carts have been known to strike and injure passengers, and in some cases, these these heavy beverage carts have pinched passengers arms and legs, causing serious injuries.

Burns

Airplane beverage carts also carry hot liquids, like coffee and tea. Some of these beverages can reach temperatures over 180°F. That’s close to boiling! Liquids this hot can cause third-degree burns in just seconds. Victims of a burn accident on an airplane could receive compensation for any medical bills, lost wages or pain and suffering.

Turbulence Injuries

In-flight turbulence causes the most injuries among airplane passengers and flight attendants. The Federal Aviation Administration says turbulence has resulted in hundreds of injuries in just the last few years, and most flight experts consider these statistics to be a conservative estimate.

The Flight Safety Foundation has studied turbulence and the injuries it can cause. Their research found that many passenger injuries were not recorded as turbulence accidents. It is now estimated that nearly 5,000 passengers are hurt each year while traveling with the 14 largest global and domestic carriers.

Research has found that many of these injuries are caused by falling baggage from overhead bins, or items thrown around the passenger cabin. Airplane injury attorneys believe accidents like these are happening even more often today because airlines have implemented pricey checked baggage fees and flights, both international and domestic, are more crowded than ever before.

As a result, a turbulence injury attorney at The Barnes Firm says passengers are using more carry-on bags, often overfilling them to avoid checking baggage.

If you or a loved one has been injured by turbulence or falling items while traveling on an airplane, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Contact an airplane injury lawyer at The Barnes Firm for a FREE case evaluation.

Airplane Pilot & Air Controller Fatigue

Airplane pilot fatigue is not only a concern for those operating the plane – but for those directing airplanes on the ground too.

“Fatigue is a common factor in airplane accidents and near-misses across the country, including some in Los Angeles,” airplane accident attorney John Sheehan said. “Even with all the technology we have today at airports, it’s still important to get enough rest to be awake and alert.”

In fact, previously at LAX airport, controller fatigue and ‘poor staffing decisions’ were contributing factors in a near-miss when two airplanes were cleared to use the same runway – one was taking off, the other was landing. Later the same year, another near-miss occurred when a controller cleared an airplane for landing while, at the same time, cleared another plane to cross in front of the landing traffic. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the controller was only getting 6 hours of sleep each night and held another job as an attorney.

“Whether you’re a flight attendant on an airplane, an air traffic controller or the pilot, sleep is vital for the safety of hundreds of passengers,” Sheehan said. “One fatigued worker could be responsible for dozens of injuries.”