Flying is statistically safer than driving, but that doesn’t mean accidents can’t occur. Sometimes accidents happen in airports even before you board a plane. If you have been injured in an airport accident, the Aiken Jacobsen law firm can help.
Common Airport Accidents
Accidents involving slips, trips, and falls are common at airports. A few of the irregularities found at airports are slippery surfaces, spilled food and drink, debris, unsecured floor mats, water leaks, loose carpets, uneven floors, and broken or inoperative safety mechanisms like handrails. Jet bridges are another cause of airport falls. Spills or other conditions that may be hazardous are not always addressed by maintenance. In an airport, passengers need safe, flat, and dry walkways to avoid accidents as they travel.
Maintaining Safe Airports
Managing an airport involves preventing dangerous conditions from causing harm to travelers. Airport managers are not necessarily responsible for injuries when people are injured at the airport. When someone is injured as a result of a dangerous condition, a manager is responsible if, through its agents or employees, it knew about it or reasonably should have known about it and either failed to repair it or warn about it. If you slip and fall on liquid on the floor, for example, the airline or airport authority could be considered negligent.
Who At Fault? The Airport or the Airline?
In general, if an airline negligence leads to an airplane accident, the airline is responsible for injuries. An example of an airline-specific accident would be tripping over debris in the aisle of the airplane, becoming injured by the attendants, or being struck by objects falling from the overhead bin. An airport manager may be held liable for injuries resulting from negligence when accidents occur while walking between gates, near the food court, in the waiting areas, or in other public places at the airport. Injury claims may be made against both airlines and airports.
If you have been injured at an airport or on an airplane, we can help. Reach out to us at (916) 549-3994 to learn more about your legal options and to get started with your case.
