No matter which airport you’re at in the state of California, there’s a good chance that you’ll stop in at a café, restaurant, or bar for a pick-me-up before or after your flight. From fast food eateries to martini bars, there’s a variety of places to stop by when you’re at the airport. Unfortunately, what should be a relaxing experience can turn into a dangerous accident due to a slip and fall hazard, like water on the floor or slippery areas on tile and carpeting. The question is: who is liable for these accidents – the restaurant or the airport? If one of these parties is responsible, how do you file a claim for monetary compensation?
The laws and procedures for airport slip and fall cases are complicated, and many victims find that they are unable to make progress when they set out to file a lawsuit. In this article, we will go over the process of filing an accident claim against an airport in California. However, the information we provide is for general purposes only. As you are likely to have questions that are unique to your own situation, contact us right away to schedule a free case evaluation.
Who is Responsible for my Accident?
For the most part, accidents are blamed on the person or entity that owns the property, as they have a duty of care to ensure the safety of their premises. For example, the city that owns and operates the airport is liable for an accident if someone slips in the bathroom due to the floors being dirty. Or, if someone was at an airport bar and slipped on a worn patch of carpet, it’s the bar that would be at fault for not taking care of a dangerous condition.
But things are not so obvious when it comes to airport slip and falls near terminal restaurants and bars. It’s possible that conditions inside the eatery caused a slip and fall hazard – for example, a leaking pipe. Then again, the problem could be something that was caused by an airport employee, like spilling a drink on the floor and not cleaning it up. But it is reasonable to assume that the restaurant should have known about the spill due to its proximity to their business? If the spill is something that’s right by the entrance, one can argue that someone is likely to fall as they are entering the restaurant. Thus, the restaurant may be responsible for the accident as well, since they are responsible for conditions that can harm their customers.
As you can see, determining who is liable for a slip and fall at the airport is no easy task, based on the location of the accident. Our experienced slip and fall lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation and go after all the entities that played a role in your accident.
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Injuries from a Slip and Fall
Slip and fall accidents can be brutal on the body, especially when they happen at busy places like airport terminals. Here is just a sampling of the injuries you can sustain from slipping and falling at the airport:
- Deep cuts
- Broken bones
- Hip fracture
- Brain damage
- Injuries to the neck, back, and spinal cord
- Damage to the kneecap and surrounding ligaments / tendons
- Joint dislocation
- Rupturing of the internal organs
- Nerve damage, resulting in loss of function
No matter what type of injuries resulted from your accident, it’s essential to fight for all the damages you are entitled to. Compensation from a slip and fall lawsuit typically includes medical expenses and lost wages, along with non-economic damages, like mental anguish and pain and suffering. To learn more about the payments you can receive based on your injuries, contact the slip and fall injury lawyers of Normandie Law Firm.
How to File a Claim if You Slip and Fall Down at an Airport
The exact procedures for an injury claim depend on various factors, including the location of your accident and the specific condition that caused you to fall at the airport. However, there are some tips that apply to slip and fall cases in general, which are listed below:
- Immediately signal for help so that an incident report can be filed by airport employees.
- Try to get the names of anyone you speak with, along with contact information in the case of witnesses. This way, your attorney can contact them later for witness statements.
- Use your phone to take pictures of any injuries, the accident scene, and surveillance cameras in the area that may have footage of the incident.
- Call 911 or get to a hospital right away to receive treatment for your injuries and establish medical records to support your case.
- Seek legal advice from an airport slip and fall lawsuit attorney at our law firm.
Filing a Slip and Fall Lawsuit – How Much Time Do I Have?
The statute of limitations for accidents at the airport can be a complicated subject, so we recommend that you speak with one of our attorneys to verify the correct deadline. The most important thing is to determine who is responsible for your injuries, which may be the airport, the restaurant / bar, or both. If you are suing a restaurant, café, or other private business, the deadline to sue is normally two years from the time you were injured.
However, the airport itself if likely to be a government entity, meaning it’s owned/operated by a city or county agency (County of Los Angeles, city of San Diego, etc.). These claims must be filed within 6 months with the applicable government agency. Depending on the agency’s response within 45 days from the date of processing, you will have 6 months from the rejection date or 2 years from the accident date to file your lawsuit. Don’t worry if you are confused by this information; we can provide you with a detailed explanation and ensure that your paperwork is filed on time.
Airport Slip and Fall Lawsuits – Average Case Values
If you were to research average values for slip and fall injury claims, you may see figures ranging between $10,000 and $50,000. While these are not inaccurate, they generally involve cases where the victim represents themselves. If you have a lawyer, on the other hand, your settlement value can increase dramatically. For example, settlements recovered by our slip and fall attorneys often fall within the range of $250,000 to over $2.5 million. This is due to the fact that our attorneys have decades of experience in airport slip and fall injury cases. That’s why it’s essential to contact us right away if you fell and injured yourself at the airport.
What is the Estimated Time to Settle These Cases?
The journey to achieving a satisfactory resolution can take longer than expected when you are suing for a slip and fall accident. There are, of course, claims that take just a few weeks to settle. But most of these involve minor injuries with no long-term health issues. The majority of lawsuits we handle involve serious injury, even those with life-long complications like paralysis and traumatic brain injury. Such cases normally take anywhere from 12 months to several years to resolve. In short, how long it will take to bring compensation to an injury victim is not something we can predict ahead of time. However, we can go over the details of your accident and the issues that may contribute to the estimated timeline during a free case review at our office.
Second Opinion from a Lawyer Experienced in Slip and Fall Lawsuits
If you have a pending airport slip and fall claim, there may be questions or areas of concern that you would like to discuss with another lawyer.
Why is my case taking so long to settle? How come it’s so hard to hear back from my attorney? Is there something wrong with my case that they don’t want to tell me?
As a slip and fall injury victim, you should not have to struggle with these issues on your own. We can help with a free second opinion consultation if you have an active slip and fall lawsuit against an airport. This is your chance to receive a free case evaluation, along with advice on how to steer your case in the right direction. There is no fee for the consultation whatsoever, so you lose nothing by taking some time to talk with us. To schedule a free second opinion, just give us a call at your earliest convenience.
Talk to a Lawyer Experienced in Airport Slip and Fall Injuries
We know that there’s no way to truly prepare for an accident and what it does to your mind, body, and finances. Fortunately, there are protections you can seek when you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence. Whether that entity is an airport or a private business – maybe both – you can count on us to recover the settlement you deserve.
The airport slip and fall lawyers of Normandie work on contingency, so you won’t pay anything if you decide we are the right firm to represent you. The cost of legal fees is covered by the defendant, which is paid out to us as a part of your compensation award. In short, we only receive payment by winning your case. Otherwise, you owe us nothing, since we protect you with the Zero Fee Guarantee from day one.
Don’t wait to learn about your rights and legal options if you slipped and fell near an airport terminal restaurant, bar, or café. Contact Normandie Law Firm to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport Fall Accident Injury Lawyer
Fresno Yosemite International Airport Fall Injury Accident Lawyer
LAX Los Angeles International Airport Slip and Fall – Trip and Fall Lawyer
