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 them 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
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 slipped and injured yourself at LAX 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 that were negligently left by an employee, you may be able to file a claim against Orange County, which owns and operates JWA.
Accidents at Burbank Airport
Liability may rest with the Burbank-Glendale–Pasadena Airport Authority if you fall and injure yourself because of a hazard at the Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR).
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?
Liability isn’t always clear. Consider this scenario: an airline staff member is escorting a passenger in a wheelchair to the gate for boarding. When rolling over damaged tile, the wheelchair goes sideways, and the passenger falls. The airport authority and the airline may share legal responsibility in this accident.
Identifying the correct defendant in a slip-and-fall accident can be complex. If your injury occurred inside one of the airport’s retail shops, eateries, or bars, liability may fall upon the operators of these establishments rather than the airport authority.
Regardless of which party is to blame, you can rest assured that the slip and fall lawyers in Los Angeles at Salamati Law will fight for fair compensation on your behalf. Even if you bear some responsibility for the accident, you can still recover compensation under California’s comparative fault laws.
Airport Slip and Fall Injuries
After motor vehicle accidents, falls are the leading cause of accidental injury and death in the U.S. Common slip and fall injuries include:
- Broken bones–Fractured wrists, hands, arms, hips, legs, and ankles are common in fall accidents. People over 65 are more susceptible to fall-related injuries like head trauma and broken hips.
- Back or neck injuries–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 soft tissue injuries can leave victims with long-lasting effects.
- Severe cuts and lacerations– 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.
How Much Is an Airport Slip and Fall Worth?
No two slip and fall accidents are the same. 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:
- Your lost wages and earnings
- Hospital and medical expenses
- Anticipated recovery costs
- Loss of potential income as a result 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 your case.
Los Angeles Airport Slip and Fall Injuries Statute of Limitations
When a slip and fall accident occurs on private property, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years. However, injuries on public property have a much shorter statute of limitations, and government entities own all of the Los Angeles-area airports.
For instance, if you were hurt in a slip and fall at Long Beach Airport, you have just six months to file a personal injury lawsuit. Failure to do so generally means your claim cannot go forward. You should seek legal counsel immediately if you’ve been hurt due to negligence at any Los Angeles airport.
Contact an Airport Injury Attorney From Salamati Law Today
If you were seriously injured due to negligence at a Los Angeles airport, you need a strong advocate in your corner. At Salamati Law, we are dedicated to ensuring clients recover the maximum compensation they need to heal and rebuild their lives. Contact us today to arrange a free, no-obligation case review. Since we work on a contingency basis, there is no fee unless you receive compensation.
