While the different states have time limits for bringing a personal injury case, and the Federal Government has time limits for cases brought in Federal Courts, once a case is filed within the applicable time period, it may take years before it goes to trial.  Filing the lawsuit “stops the clock” of the legal time limit, called the “Statute of Limitations,” so that the airport accident case will not be dismissed by the judge for being brought too late.  It is also not a good idea to wait until the end of the 2- or 3-year Statute of Limitations before filing your airline injury case.

Sometimes the air injury team at ABRAMS LANDAU is asked to take over a case or join another law firm in a case that has already been filed in court.  Herndon Virginia airport accident lawyer Doug Landau is normally reluctant to get involved, “late in the process. We thoroughly investigate airport injury cases and spend time, effort and money laying a ‘firm foundation’ so that proof of the Defendant’s liability (fault) will not be something we have to worry about years later. Even where a good personal injury law firm has started the lawsuit, we have our own methods of investigating and preserving the evidence.  Coming in a ‘the 24th hour’ is not something we are equipped to do. Plus, it is unfair to our existing clients when we have to drop what we are doing on their cases to rush around in order to try to resuscitate an airport claim ‘late in the game.'”

Landau adds, “we have had to turn down some very compelling cases where the airport worker or traveling air passenger was permanently injured because they did not come to us right away or another lawyer or law firm started the case but did not have the experience or manpower to fully work up the claim. We cannot undo any harm that has been done by delay, fading memories, disappearing witnesses or evidence.  It is one of the hardest parts of my job – saying ‘no’ to callers who have been disabled from an airport accident, but who are too late for us to help with the methods or tools at our disposal. Like an Emergency Room doctor who must use triage, there are cases that are just too late for us to help.

If you or someone you know or care for has been injured as the result of an airport runway truck crash, slip and fall, or other air travel related accident and there are questions about what laws apply, e-mail or call us at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. (703-796-9555) at once.