Airport Shuttle Driver Wins in Record Time

Record time for Dulles Airport MidfieldTerminal Shuttle Bus - getting a decision from the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission
Record time for Dulles Airport MidfieldTerminal Shuttle Bus driver- getting a decision from the Virginia Workers Compensation Commission for his on the job injury claim

Normally airport workers and airline employees wait weeks and months for a decision to be reached in their on the job accident cases. The Virginia Workers Compensation Commission had been advising claimants that it would be at least 3-8 weeks for the case to be decided from the date that the record is closed (and no more evidence or testimony may be submitted).

After the Courts were closed on Monday due to the snow storm, and expecting delays and re-scheduling to cause his disabled clients to wait even longer for a determination in their cases, Herndon airport injury lawyer Doug Landau tried a difficult case in Manassas, Virginia. The injured shuttle bus driver’s claim had been denied. The insurance company had: the job site accident report, the official accident report, taken a taped statement and the injured Dulles Airport worker’s answers to their lawyer’s written questions, under oath ! In other words, insurance defense attorney for the airport did not think the claimant had a chance in proving a compensable injury by accident in the course and scope of his employment. There was no offer to settle the case for even “nuisance value.” The workers comp carrier and their counsel also did not expect a decision by one of the best and most experienced judges in Virginia until summer time.

However, in one of the fastest turnaround times lawyer Landau can recall, the Manassas Virginia Deputy Commissioner put the decision on the Commission’s website 72 hours after the trial was concluded ! And the result was an AWARD for the injured airport bus driver. His medical bills, surgery, time loss from work and other related expenses will now be the responsibility of the workers compensation insurance company. He is now also eligible for future permanency, medical, wage loss and other benefits under the Virginia Workers Compensation Act. In our next posts, we will discuss the issues that were argued in the case. If you or someone you know or care for has been injured as the result of an airport terminal, airplane 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.