California is home to some of the world’s busiest airports, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Areas like baggage claims and gates usually come to mind when we think of busy areas inside an airport. But the public bathrooms in any airport are busy from morning till night, and sadly, they are a common source of injuries for unsuspecting guests and visitors.
Have you been injured from an airport bathroom accident at a California airport? Depending on the cause of your accident, you may be entitled to compensation, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and damage to your property. For information on your rights and legal options, contact us right away to speak with an accident at the airport injury lawyer. We are ready to fight for you and the compensation you deserve from any type of accident claim, including:
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Slip and fall
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Trip and fall
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Falling object accident
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Assault and battery
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Sexual assault
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Burn accidents (from scalding water)
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Injuries from broken glass, metal, porcelain, etc.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$1.1 Million
$1.5 Million
$600,000
$525,000
$734,851
Who is Liable if I’ve Been Injured in an Airport Bathroom?
In most cases involving injuries in an airport bathroom, the airport is the responsible party under California’s law of premises liability. Basically, all property owners have a legal duty to maintain the safety of their property at all times through measures like repairing and removing hazardous conditions. Owners can also be responsible for the actions of their employees (vicarious liability) if those actions occurred within the course of their job duties.
For example, slip and fall and trip and fall accidents are the most common source of injury in and around airport bathrooms.
Unfortunately, airport operators often fail to properly clean and maintain the facilities,
resulting in slip and falls in or outside of bathrooms. Conditions that can lead to a fall-related accident include:
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Water on the floor from leaking toilets and sinks
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Slippery floors from soap, lotion, and other substances
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No warning signs (Wet Floor, for example) around wet or freshly mopped areas
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Dirty bathrooms – failure to mop floors or clean bathroom surfaces
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Puddles around drinking fountains near the bathroom
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Defective handrails in handicap stalls
If the airport knew about or should have known about the hazard that led to your accident, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit, which we can discuss with you during a free case evaluation.
What if I am Not a California Resident – Do I Need a California Lawyer?
In general, you are not required to have a California lawyer if you live in another state or outside of the United States, but there are clear benefits to hiring a lawyer that’s based in California. For one thing, investigating your accident and obtaining crucial evidence is much easier for a law firm that’s in the same state as the airport where you were injured. The same can be said for any paperwork that needs to be filed with the court or government agency (if you are suing a city / county-owned airport).
It’s also worth noting that each state has specific laws on legal requirements, like premises liability and the statute of limitations to sue for a personal injury claim. The most reliable source for information on these issues is a lawyer that’s based in the state where your accident occurred. Thus, we strongly recommend that you contact us right away, so that you can learn about your rights and legal options from a California airport accident attorney.
How to File a Claim if You Got Hurt in an Airport Bathroom
An accident claim is the first and most important step in the legal process when you’ve been injured at an airport bathroom. Please don’t wait to take the following actions if you’ve been injured due to a hazardous condition at the airport:
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Alert people to the fact that you’ve been injured so that airport security or staff can be notified of your accident. This way, they can write up an incident report, which will establish that your injuries occurred at the airport.
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Be careful when answering questions about the accident. Don’t apologize for anything, and don’t make emotional statements that can imply you were at fault for the accident (“I should have been more careful,” for example).
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If there are visible injuries, take photos right away to preserve as much evidence as possible. Capture images of the accident scene as well, especially the condition that’s responsible for your accident.
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If anyone saw what happened to you, get their contact information so that you can ask for a witness statement.
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Seek medical attention, since you will need medical records to show the harm you’ve suffered.
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Get legal advice from a California accident in airport bathroom injury attorney, who can help you build a strong and solid case.
Average Case Value for an Airport Bathroom Injury Claim
The amount you are entitled to from an accident claim against an airport is based on the severity of your injuries, their short and long-term effects, and many other factors that are unique to your circumstances. The type of accident matters as well, though not as much as the degree of injury. That’s why it’s difficult to provide average case values for these lawsuits. If we had to take an educated guess, a slip and fall in airport bathroom injuries clam may be worth around $250,000 to $2.5 million. An assault and battery lawsuit may be valued at around $100,000 to over $3 million.
As you can see, these are very wide ranges that reflect the complexity of the losses you can suffer as an airport accident victim. If you are interested in learning what your own lawsuit is worth, contact us for a free consultation.
What is the Statute of Limitations for an Airport Accident Lawsuit?
The amount of time you have to file your lawsuit depends on whether you are suing a private or public entity. Most airports in California are owned and operated by a city or county, which makes them public (government) entities.
Claims against the government must be submitted within 6 months from your accident. In most cases, you will receive an approval or denial notice in writing within 45 days. If the applicable agency rejects your claim, you will need to file a lawsuit within 6 months to pursue a case for monetary damages. If you don’t hear back from the agency at all within 45 days, your statute of limitations for a lawsuit is two years from the incident date.
What happens, though, if the airport is owned and/or operated by a private agency? In that case, you would have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. However, you will need to file an accident claim with the owner of the airport and attempt to negotiate a settlement before you can proceed with a lawsuit. Regardless of the procedures you will need to follow, it’s in your best interest to hire a lawyer that can guide you through the process. This is particularly helpful during the negotiation process, as victims with lawyers receive up to 3 times as much as people that choose to represent themselves.
How Long Does it Take to Settle These Cases?
Unfortunately, there is no universal timeline for the settlement of an airport accident injury case. The process to achieve a settlement can be relatively short – a few months, perhaps, or it can be as long as two or more years. Our goal is to bring you closure within 6 months from the filing of an injury claim, but that may not be possible based on the defendant’s response. Cases take the longest when they proceed to a lawsuit, though we are able to settle most of these before the trial date. In the event that a trial is required, securing compensation for your injuries can take up to several years.
Can I Change Lawyers if I have an Active Case?
Yes, switching your lawyer is something you can do at any point in your case, even if you have an active lawsuit. Many people end up changing lawyers for a variety of reasons, including lack of communication and incompetence by their attorneys. However, you should not assume that this is the right choice for you, as there are consequences you should consider before moving your case to a new law firm. Our lawyers are available to provide you with a free second opinion if you’d like to have your case evaluated by an experienced injury attorney. As this is a free service, there’s no risk in taking some time to learn about your legal options from one of our legal experts.
Advice from a Lawyer Experienced with Accidents in Airport Bathrooms
The recovery process from an accident is painful for your body and mind, as well as your finances. The impact of your injuries on many areas of your life is not something you should struggle with when your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence. Whether you need a slip and fall lawyer or an attorney that’s experienced in assault and battery cases, we can help you here at Normandie Law Firm.
With our many years of experience in the representation of airport injury victims, we are more than ready for the challenge of fighting for your rights. In addition, we offer a Zero Fee Guarantee, since you shouldn’t have to worry about legal fees at a time like this. We bill the defendant for the cost of representing you, which is paid to us only if we win your case. In essence, we don’t make a cent unless you receive compensation for your harm and suffering.
Don’t wait to learn about the legal actions that are available to you. Contact Normandie Law Firm to schedule a free case review with an airport bathroom accident lawyer.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
LAX Los Angeles International Airport Slip and Fall – Trip and Fall Lawyer
Calexico Airport Accident Injury Lawyer
Oakland International Airport Accident Injury Attorney
