When luggage handlers and other airport workers hurt their backs, dislocate their shoulders, or injure their cervical spine while loading and unloading heavy bags, their injuries may not always be covered by Virginia Law. Where there is a cumulative injury, your claim can be denied by the Worker’s Compensation Insurance Company if it does not…
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The Dulles International Airport (IAD) announced their investment of $675 million in a new concourse by 2026 – the most significant upgrade in the airport’s history! While there are two other international airports in close proximity, IAD holds the largest volume of travelers in the Washington DC metropolitan area. It has the longest runways, the…
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Airline pilots are expected to perform a pre-flight inspection, to make sure that their aircraft is safe for the journey. If a pilot, or a member of the flight crew, is injured during preflight inspection, this may be covered by the airline’s Worker’s Compensation insurance. This means that there may be in coverage for their…
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 290 airlines, or 82% of total air traffic. According to the IATA’s own publication, burns and spills remain one of the most commonly reported cabin safety issues, resulting in injury and lost time from work. In the “Cabin Operations Safety Best Practices…
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Airline ground crew and airport personnel are vulnerable on the air operations area (“AOA”) because of the numerous vehicles that are maneuvering — sometimes in very tight spaces. In addition, most of these workers are wearing ear protection which limits their ability to hear danger coming from behind. With jet engines running, it is sometimes…
Continue readingAt most international airports, including the three major airports in the Washington DC Metro area — Baltimore Washington International Airport (“BWI”), Dulles International Airport (“IAD”), and Reagan National Airport (“WAS”) — there is a ticketing and points system for drivers on the “airport operations area” (AOA) just like on the roads and interstate highways. However,…
Continue readingWorker’s Compensation insurance companies do not volunteer to tell injured airport workers what additional benefits they may be entitled to, in addition to the basic medical care and partial wage replacement. Avoiding paying “full value” is what insurers do. Every day. Recently an insurance company for a local airport filed papers with the Virginia Worker’s…
Continue readingCruising at a comfortable speed, passing others on his right, Doug Landau had nearly finished Sunday’s ride when, without any warning, his new silver airplane took off and landed somewhere in a corn field in Colonial Beach. Lawyer Landau had received the toy plane from his daughter for his July 4th birthday, and he had…
Continue readingWhen an airline worker is injured on the job and receives comp benefits, their employer (or workers comp insurance carrier) can request that they see a doctor not of their choosing, and not for treatment. Under the Virginia workers compensation law, the comp insurer can have the disabled employee seen by a physician, once per…
Continue readingNowadays it seems as though every domestic flight on a large commercial air carrier is “a la carte.” As the cartoon sent to me in a solicitation for New Yorker Magazine suggests, even safety may finally be “pay to play.” As many first and business class passengers get to check a bag without charge, and…
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