Located in Santa Ana, California, John Wayne Airport is a general aviation and commercial airport that serves Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area. Named in honor of legendary actor, John Wayne, the airport is serviced by numerous airlines, including Delta, Southwest, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. Around 10,000 passengers fly into and out of the airport every year, which makes it one of the busiest locations in Orange County. Unfortunately, these circumstances increase the possibility of an accident, especially if the airport fails to inspect and maintain the facility on a regular basis. Misconduct or carelessness by airport employees can also cause injury to innocent victims.
If you suffered an accident on the premises of John Wayne Airport, you may be owed monetary compensation from Orange County, the airline, or any other party that’s responsible for your accident. Normandie Law Firm is here to educate you on your rights and ensure that you are reimbursed for the losses you’ve sustained. Our lawyers can represent you for any type of accident claim at John Wayne Airport, including:
- Slip and fall
- Trip and fall
- Struck by falling objects
- Airport bathroom accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Assault and battery
- Sexual assault
- Wheelchair accidents
- Injured inside the plane, or from exiting or entering the plane
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
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$525,000
$734,851
What to Do if You’ve had an Accident at John Wayne Airport
Even if it’s clear that an employee or a hazard at the airport is the cause of your injury, you will need evidence to substantiate your claim. To ensure that you have the strongest case possible, please take these steps right away if you’ve been in an accident at
John Wayne Airport:
- Make sure there is a record of your accident by immediately signaling an employee and asking for help. Ask for the names of anyone you speak with, so that your lawyer can track them down later on.
- If possible, ask for contact information from witnesses, who may be able to provide you with written statements.
- If you are able to, take photos of your injuries, damage to your property, and the scene of the accident.
- Be careful what you say when employees of the airport question you about the incident. Stick to the facts and avoid vague answers or statements that put you in a bad light, such as, “I’m sorry” or “I should have watched where I was going.”
- Seek medical treatment ASAP. Otherwise, it may be difficult to prove that your injuries occurred at the airport.
- Seek representation from an experienced airport accident lawsuit attorney.
Determining Who is Liable for Your Accident
Liability, or legal responsibility, for an accident at the airport usually falls on the owner and/or operator of the facility. For John Wayne Airport, the owner and operator is Orange County, so this is the party you would sue for monetary compensation. However, you will need to prove that the county was negligent in their duty of care to you by establishing these factors:
- You were a legitimate guest or visitor on the premises (you were not trespassing at the time of the incident).
- There existed on the property a dangerous condition that had the potential to cause an accident, which airport employees / operators caused, knew about, or failed to resolve. This constitutes an act of negligence.
- This act of negligence is the reason you were injured, and as a result, you are owed monetary damages from the county of Orange.
Once you have the foundation for an accident injury claim, you will need to figure out which damages you are eligible to receive. Aside from the cost of medical treatment, you may have a case for lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and other forms of compensation. To learn more about the restitution you can receive, call us to schedule a free case evaluation.
Can the Airline be Responsible for my Accident?
Yes, airline liability for injuries is a critical factor in many cases of accidents at John Wayne Airport. Common accidents that can be blamed on an airline include slip and falls inside the plane, falling objects from overhead compartments, and in-flight turbulence injuries.
In addition, there are complex accidents that involve airport liability for injuries, as well as negligence by the airline. For example, let’s say a wheelchair-bound passenger needs to be escorted on to and off the plane. This means they have to get through the airport safely, and then be helped into the plane by an airport employee or the flight attendant. In these situations, both entities may be responsible if the passenger is injured while they are at the airport.
Since liability for your accident can be very complicated to determine, please seek guidance from a John Wayne Airport accident injury attorney by contacting our office.
Average Settlement Value for an Injury Claim against John Wayne Airport
An average settlement value that is applicable to airport accident claims in general is impossible to come up with, since each case is governed by a set of unique factors. The extent of the victim’s injuries, their financial losses, the emotional impact of the accident, are just a few of the issues that are used to determine the value of an injury case. For some victims, a fair amount of damages may be around $15,000 to $35,000, while others are entitled to $100,000 or more. In the worst case scenarios where the victim has lifelong injuries with extensive complications, a settlement can easily exceed $1 million.
How Long will it Take to Settle my Case?
Due to the number of issues that can come up during the claims process, it’s impossible to say with certainty how long it will take to resolve your case. The majority of cases are settled without a lawsuit, meaning we can negotiate a settlement directly with the county. This process can take just a few weeks in some cases, but most claims take anywhere from 6 months to a year. In the event direct negotiations do not work out, the next step is to file a lawsuit. Most lawsuits are settled without the need for a trial, but recovering your damages can take another year or more at this point.
Statute of Limitations to File an Airport Injury Lawsuit
If you are suing a private entity, like a store or homeowner, you would normally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. But the procedure is different for legal actions against government entities, like properties owned and operated by Orange County. The process of suing for an injury at John Wayne Airport starts with a compensation claim against the county, which you must file within 6 months from your accident date. The county has 45 days to accept your claim or send you a notice of denial. If your claim is denied, you have 6 months to petition the court for a lawsuit. If the applicable agency fails to send you a response within 45 days of receiving your claim, your statute of limitations for a lawsuit is 2 years from the date of your accident.
Free Second Opinion
Are you being represented by another law firm, but have questions or concerns about their handling of your case? There’s no need to stay silent if you are unhappy with your current lawyer. Here at Normandie Law Firm, we offer free second opinions to anyone with an active personal injury claim. Just give us a call to speak with a lawyer that’s experienced in airport or airline accident claims. After a free evaluation of your case, you can decide on the best course of action, which may include changing your lawyer and continuing your lawsuit with us. However, there is no pressure to switch lawyers or take any other action that you are not 100% comfortable with. Since there’s nothing to lose by speaking with us, contact our office to schedule a free second opinion.
Contact the Airport Accident Injury Lawyers of Normandie
Our law firm is dedicated to bringing you justice if you were injured from an act of negligence at John Wayne Airport. We are ready to take immediate action on your case and fight for every penny you deserve from Orange County. All you have to do is reach out to us at your earliest convenience and take some time to learn about your rights and legal options.
Our commitment to you and your case includes protection for your finances from day one. With the Zero Fee Guarantee, you won’t pay anything to retain our services for the entire duration of your claim. The party that’s responsible for paying us is the defendant, and that only happens if we win your case and recover the compensation you deserve. For more information on your right to sue for an accident at John Wayne Airport, schedule a free case review by contacting our office.
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