Are airlines responsible for turbulence injuries? In-flight turbulence is the primary cause of injuries to airline flight attendants and passengers in non-fatal accidents. In certain cases of in-flight injuries, the airline, maintenance contractors, plane manufacturer, aircraft retro-fitter, or even the manufacturer of a faulty aircraft part, can be held responsible. The question raised is whether…
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We have all heard the announcements by the airline staff asking for passengers to “gate check” luggage because the flight is full. We’ve also seen people drop off strollers and other bags just before the door to enter. What happens to these articles? In many cases, either someone has to trudge up the exterior steel…
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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…
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 readingWhy would an airline, or an airline’s workers compensation insurance company, hire investigators to follow an injured airline employee ? Why would the air carriers’ gumshoes search the disabled workers’ FaceBook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media ? According to air injury lawyer Doug Landau, the short answer is “Economics.” “Airlines have an economic…
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…
Continue reading“If I am struck by one of those beeping electric vehicles carrying disabled passengers through an airport, or clipped by a maintenance Cushman or even hit by a security Segway, do I have a case?” While an injured traveler at one of our international airports may have a case for negligence if the vehicle driver…
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