Southern California is home to some of the nation’s busiest airports, serving millions of passengers annually. Whether going on a trip, just returning, or seeing off family or friends, a slip and fall at a Los Angeles airport can seriously impact your life. Perhaps you cannot work during your recovery, or your injuries are so severe that you are permanently disabled. If it occurred due to airport negligence, you may have grounds for filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Unsurprisingly, airport terminals, common areas, and jetways are rife with slip and fall hazards, most of which are avoidable. A Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer at Salamati Law protects your rights and fights for fair and reasonable compensation to cover your damages. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What Should I Do If I Slip and Fall at the Airport?
If you slip and fall at the airport, do your best to document the accident by taking pictures or videos. For example, if loose cords or debris are responsible, it can take seconds for airport personnel to remove them, so you need a record of it. This type of documentation can establish negligence. In addition, it can also prove that warning signs were missing if you slipped on a wet floor. If there are eyewitnesses, obtain their names and contact information. Report your accident to security and have them document the incident. If you fall at an airport restaurant or bar, report the incident to the manager.
Always seek prompt medical attention, even if you feel fine. Many injuries, such as concussions and soft tissue injuries, can have delayed onset symptoms. If you do not do this, the insurance company could argue that it happened elsewhere or is not as serious as you allege.
Liability Issues and Potential Defendants
If you suffer a slip and fall at the airport, do your best to document the accident by taking pictures or videos. For example, if loose cords or debris are responsible, it can take seconds for airport personnel to remove them, so you need a record of it. This type of documentation can establish negligence. In addition, it can also prove that warning signs were missing if you slipped on a wet floor.
If there are eyewitnesses, obtain their names and contact information. Inform airport personnel or security about the accident as soon as possible and request that an incident report be filed. If you fall at an airport restaurant or bar, report the incident to the manager.
Always seek prompt medical attention, even if you feel fine. Many injuries, such as concussions and soft tissue injuries, can have delayed onset symptoms. If you do not do this, the insurance company could argue that it happened elsewhere or is not as severe as you allege.
Before making important decisions, consult an airport injury attorney at Salamati Law, who can explain your legal options.
Who’s Liable for Your Airport Slip and Fall Accident?
Uneven flooring, poor lighting, slippery floors, and other hazards are all too common in airports, which owe a duty of care to invitees. Under theories of premises liability, all property owners and operators have a duty to perform routine maintenance, check for dangerous conditions, repair known hazards, and warn guests about anything that could cause a person to suffer injury.
For example, if you are waiting for your flight to board and trip over a piece of loose carpeting in the gate area and fracture a hip, you would have a strong claim for damages. The next logical question is, who will pay for your medical bills and related expenses?
Here are potential defendants in a Los Angeles airport slip and fall case:
Accidents at LAX
A slip and fall accident in the airport’s public areas would likely be brought against the airport authority. If you have been injured in an LAX airport accident because of a dangerous condition, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) would likely be named the defendant since it is the governing body for LAX.
Accidents at John Wayne Airport
If you are walking from one gate to another and tumble over cords or wires left by a negligent employee, you may be able to file a claim against Orange County, which owns and operates JWA.
Accidents at Burbank Airport
The Burbank-Glendale–Pasadena Airport Authority is the managing body of Burbank Airport. The authority holds primary responsibility for maintaining safe conditions in public areas.
Accidents at Ontario International Airport
The city of Ontario and San Bernardino County jointly acquired Ontario International Airport (ONT) from the city of Los Angeles in 2015 and created the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) to own and operate the facility. Anyone injured on the premises due to airport negligence would file a claim against OIAA.
Accidents at Long Beach Airport
The city of Long Beach owns and operates Long Beach Airport (LGB), the state’s oldest municipal airport. If you were injured because someone spilled food or drink in a public area that was not cleaned, you may be able to file a claim against the city.
Is Airport Accident Liability Always Clear?
Determining liability is not always straightforward, as airports are bustling hubs where multiple entities, including airport authorities, airlines, concession stands, and maintenance contractors, share responsibility for maintaining safety. If your slip and fall happened within a restaurant, retail shop, bar, or another business operating inside an airport’s premises, the liability might extend to those businesses rather than the airport authority.
However, there are instances where multiple parties might share responsibility. Consider this scenario: A passenger slips on a spilled drink in a cafe at the airport. If the spill extends into a common area, the cafe owner and the airport authority could be at fault. This illustrates the complexity of determining liability in such environments.
Regardless of which party is to blame, trust that the slip and fall lawyers at Salamati Law will fight for fair compensation. Even if you bear some responsibility for the accident, California’s comparative fault laws allow you to recover compensation under California’s comparative fault laws.
Common Airport Accident Injuries
After motor vehicle accidents, falls are the leading cause of accidental injury and death in the U.S. Common slip and fall injuries in airports include:
- Broken bones – Fractured wrists, hands, arms, hips, legs, and ankles are common in fall accidents, especially among older adults.
- Back or neck injuries – This can lead to herniated discs, spinal stenosis, facet joint injuries, and other conditions leading to chronic pain and disability. In addition to surgery, victims may require long-term rehabilitation and physical therapy.
- Soft tissue injuries and contusions – Sprains, strains, and contusions can have lasting effects on victims.
- Severe cuts and lacerations—These may require stitches and be prone to infection if not treated promptly.
- Brain injuries — Falls are one of the leading causes of concussions, a type of traumatic brain injury.
- Spinal cord injuries – Spinal cord injuries can result in paraplegia, quadriplegia, or other neurological issues. The victim may require lifelong medical care.
In some cases, a slip and fall injury proves fatal. Surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against those responsible for their loved one’s demise.
What is the Average Los Angeles Airport Slip and Fall Case Worth?
While the average cost of a slip and fall injury is somewhere between $30,000-$60,000, slip and fall cases in California have been known to settle for hundreds of thousands – and even millions – of dollars, based upon the severity of the injury, the extent of the negligence on the part of the premises owner, and the quality of the plaintiff’s slip and fall attorney.
Types of Compensation You May Receive
When determining the value of your airport slip and fall accident claim, a lawyer will look at two categories of compensation: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are measurable, out-of-pocket expenses that result from your injury. These are calculated by adding up:
- Hospital and medical expenses
- Anticipated recovery costs
- Your lost wages and earnings
- Loss of potential income because of your injuries
Non-economic damages are more subjective and not easily quantified. While they are more challenging to assign a dollar figure, they still merit fair compensation:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
A claim for non-economic damages is subject to greater scrutiny during settlement negotiations, underscoring the need for a skilled airport accident attorney to represent you. Consult with our firm to get an accurate assessment of the potential value of your claim.
How Long Do I Have to File an Airport Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
California’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit after a slip and fall accident on private property is generally two years. However, accidents on public property, including Los Angeles-area airports, have a shorter timeframe of six months. Failure to meet these deadlines could mean your claim cannot go forward.
Trust Your Airport Slip and Fall Case to Salamati Law
If you were seriously injured due to negligence at a Los Angeles airport, do not delay seeking legal counsel. At Salamati Law, we understand the intricacies of airport slip and fall cases and are equipped to handle the most complex liability issues. We are prepared to investigate your case thoroughly, identify all liable parties, and fight to secure the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact us today to arrange a free, no-obligation case review with an experienced slip and fall lawyer in Los Angeles. Since we work on a contingency basis, there are no legal fees unless you receive compensation.
