Can you bring a claim for a Dulles Airport “people mover” midfield terminal bus crash during the government shut down??

Even though the Federal government is shut down, and there is a shortage of air traffic controllers; cancellation and delays for many flights out of Washington Dulles International Airport (“IAD”), a claim for physical injuries can still be brought during the government shut down. Dulles Airport injury lawyer Doug Landau notes that there is insurance available to pay claims that is independent of the federal government’s economic situation.

Dulles Airport, which is larger than Reagan National Airport, and also runs 24/7, has mobile lounges that require constant maintenance. How often do the MWAA police actually ticket a Mobile Lounge Driver who is operating one of these huge vehicles unsafely?

Washington DC’s Dulles Airport, like Reagan National Airport (DCA) is under the auspices of the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA). This quasi-governmental entity has insurance for such things as: physical injuries, crashes, trip & falls, and other personal injury claims. The fact that the Federal legislators cannot seem to agree on how to reopen the government should not be an obstacle to the bringing of a valid injury claim that arises at Washington Dulles International Airport. In fact, notes airport injury lawyer Doug Landau, not only is there coverage for personal injuries caused by MWAA negligence, but the airlines, contractors, subcontractors and other companies providing services around the Airport Operation Area are generally all covered by policies of insurance to reimburse innocent travelers for their injuries and losses.

Dulles Airport people movers, or "mobile lounges" are some of the largest wheel-based motor vehicles on the planet. With no safety belts, busy airport traffic with all sizes and shapes of vehicles and aircraft, the danger of this above ground transportation have resulted in permanent injuries to travelers, airport employees and airline workers.
Dulles Airport people movers, or “mobile lounges,” with the state names abbreviations to identify them, are some of the largest wheel-based motor vehicles on the planet. With no safety belts, passengers can be permanently injured in a crash or even “near miss.” Busy airport traffic is comprised of vehicles of all sizes and shapes, aircraft, and obstacles. The danger of this above ground transportation fleet have resulted in permanent injuries to travelers, airport employees and airline workers.

The Dulles Airport midfield terminal busses, sometimes called “mobile lounges,” or people movers, are some of the largest wheel based vehicles in the world. They are a unique feature of Dulles Airport. They are no longer being manufactured, and spare parts aer hard to come by.  They drive airport travelers to and from the busy terminals, and the roadways around the runways are crowded. With tired, unpaid air traffic controllers in the mix, the question was not IF there would be a crash, accident or traffic jam of jets, trucks, tugs, tractors and mobile lunges, but when, Having ridden the Dulles midfield terminal busses hundreds of times, lawyer Landau has helped travelers and airline workers injured when these big busses have run over construction materials, stalled on the Air Operations Area, had doors swing open, and other incidents at the Washington area International airport. These very tall motor vehicles do not have safety belts. A sudden stop can, and has, wreaked havoc on passengers.

Lining up a Dulles Airport Mobile Lounge, or “people mover” requires precision, training and clear paths.  It is critical that these strange looking busses are in good working order. This is a difficult “ask” when they are no longer in production and spare parts are hard to come by…

What makes these Dulles Airport cases more complicated is the fact that the local police or sheriffs department cannot just roll up[ and enter the premises. The airport has its own MWAA Police Department, surveillance system and evidence retention policy! So, unless a law firm regularly investigates crashes, injuries and “incidents” at Dulles Airport, they will not be able to help injured passengers efficiently. Having represented travelers AND employees of the airport authority, airlines, contractors and air service companies, the teams at ABRAMS LANDAU is able to call upon their experience, prior clients and airport experts to move forward quickly in these cases.

If you or someone you know or care for has been injured as the result of an accident while traveling at an airport, on an aircraft air while on the job, and there are questions about what laws apply, please give us a call or text (703-796-9555) or email us at Abrams Landau, Ltd.