Long Beach Airport (LGB) is a public airport located between Orange County and Los Angeles County, though its official location is in L.A. County, just 3 miles from Downtown Long Beach. The facility is also known as Daugherty Field and is primarily serviced by Southwest Airlines. Due to its close proximity to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Long Beach Airport is kept busy throughout the year by domestic passengers traveling to cities like Las Vegas, Honolulu, Denver, and Salt Lake City.
As with any airport in the state of California, accidents from falling down are very common at LGB due to countless hazards throughout the property. The truth is, most of these accidents could have been prevented by the airport through basic measures, like mopping up spills, fixing broken steps, and posting warning signs.
If you fell and got injured at Daugherty Field, please take some time to discuss your rights and legal options with one of our attorneys. Our team of Long Beach Airport trip and fall attorneys and slip and fall experts are available 24/7, so contact us anytime to schedule a free case evaluation.
Fall Accident Injuries at Long Beach Airport
There are many airport slip and fall injuries you can end up with from falling down at Long Beach Airport. You can also be injured from tripping over something that should have been removed or repaired by the operators of the airport. An LGB slip and fall lawsuit will compensate you for the harm you’ve suffered, which may include:
- Brain injury, such as concussion and hemorrhaging
- Hip fracture
- Deep cuts and associated infections
- Damage to the internal organs (rupturing, for example)
- Sprain or fracture in the ankles and wrists
- Dislocated joints
- Neck and back injury, including spinal cord damage
- Nerve damage, leading to loss of function
- Permanent scars
- Chronic pain
- Psychological damage – PTSD, depression, and problems sleeping
- Fatality
Those with severe health complications may die as a result of their injuries. This is not uncommon among those with brain damage or a broken hip, especially if they are over the age of 60. Loved ones may have the right to sue the city of Long Beach for the wrongful death compensation. However, these cases can be very challenging to prove, so please seek guidance from a wrongful death attorney for slip and fall accidents at Long Beach Airport.
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Airport Accident Liability for a Slip and Fall at Daugherty Field
Property owners in California have a legal duty to keep others safe from accidents on their premises. Owners include private individuals, as well as companies and government agencies. Long Beach Airport is owned by the city of Long Beach, which means they are the party that’s most likely responsible if you fell at the airport. However, you must establish that your accident was a direct result of negligence or misconduct by the airport.
To give you an example of how these principles apply to an airport, let’s consider an incident where someone fell off the escalators. The accident was caused by a slippery substance on one of the steps, which caused the victim to lose their balance on the escalators. Under the law of premises liability, airport owners are responsible for the actions of their employees during the course of their job duties. Thus, failure by the employees to clean the substance off the escalator steps makes the airport owner liable for the victim’s injuries.
Frankly, there are countless dangers lurking at an airport which have the potential to cause a fall-related accident. Here are some of the most common examples:
- Slippery floors – from improper cleaning techniques, spilled drinks, oil and grease patches, water, etc.
- Leaks in bathrooms (worn pipes, broken toilets and sinks)
- Defective stairs / steps
- Broken hand rails
- Cracks in the sidewalk
- Insufficient lighting / burned out light bulbs
- No safety barriers or signs to warn people of a hazard
- Hazardous weather conditions like snow, black ice, and puddles
Another thing to keep in mind is that there are many businesses operating within the airport. These places also have an obligation to prevent injuries to guests and visitors. If, for example, you slipped and fell at the airport due to a spilled beverage inside a coffee shop, you may have grounds to sue an entity other than the airport. Based on the circumstances, you may even have the right to sue the airport, as well as the coffee shop. An experienced Long Beach Airport slip and fall lawsuit attorney can get to the root of your accident and ensure that you receive compensation from all the responsible parties.
Below are more examples of third parties that can be included in a LGB trip and fall lawsuit or slip and fall claim:
- Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies
- Taxi / limo service
- An airline (Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest, and Delta Connection)
- Private contractors (for remodeling / renovations at the airport)
- Long Beach Transit (public transportation)
No matter who is liable for the harm you’ve suffered, legal representation is the key to recovering your losses from a lawsuit against Daugherty Field. That’s why it’s essential to contact a fall accident injury lawyer as soon as possible if you fall and injure yourself at Long Beach Airport.
What to Do if You’re Injured from a Fall at the Airport
While no two accidents are alike, there are specific actions you can take to preserve evidence and protect your rights to monetary compensation. To ensure the best possible outcome from a LGB airport slip and fall lawsuit, follow the procedures we’ve listed below:
- Get the attention of an airport employee so that an accident report can be filed right away.
- Keep your answer short and to the point, and avoid saying things like “I’m such a clutz,” which may be used by the airport to blame you for the accident.
- Make note of any security cameras in the area and use your phone to take photos of the accident scene and any visible injuries.
- If there are people that witnessed the accident, ask for their contact information.
- Ask for an ambulance or get yourself to a hospital right away, as you will need medical records to substantiate a claim for damages against the airport.
- Collect all forms of evidence that can strengthen your case, like witness statements, medical records, proof of lost wages, and items that were damaged in the accident.
- Learn about the legal actions that are available to you from a LGB trip and fall attorney or a lawyer experienced in slip and fall accidents at Long Beach Airport.
Damages You can Recover from a Lawsuit against Long Beach Airport
Most claimants that file an injury claim are unaware of all the damages they are entitled to, based on their injuries and the degree of negligence by the airport. A knowledgeable LGB airport slip and fall lawyer at our office can advise you of the available payments and fight for the highest settlement you are due by law. Damages we can recover on your behalf may include some or all of the following:
- Medical expenses, including cost of mental health counseling
- Value of lost wages and work benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of consortium
- Property damage
- Cost of hiring an attorney
- Punitive damages
In the next section, we will talk about the case value of a fall injury accident case against Daugherty Field. If you have any questions or concerns about the process to sue Long Beach Airport, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Value of a Lawsuit for LGB Airport Slip and Fall Injuries
There’s no way for us to state a universal case value that is sufficient for all victims of a slip and fall or trip and fall at Long Beach Airport. However, we can provide you with a range of values based on the settlements and verdicts that were achieved by our attorneys. A Long Beach Airport trip and fall lawsuit may be worth around $150,000 to over $2 million, depending on how your injuries impact your life. The range is similar for slip and fall incidents, though we would adjust the amounts to approximately $250,000 to $2.5 million or higher.
We know that these are very wide ranges, but this is to be expected when each victim has unique circumstances that will determine what their lawsuit is worth. If you’d like assistance in figuring out the total amount you should ask for, contact us to speak with a Daugherty Field slip and fall lawyer.
Statute of Limitations for a Slip and Fall Lawsuit
Even if you have an iron-clad case against the airport, you will need to file your lawsuit within the statutes of limitations set forth by the California Tort Claims Act. Under this law, you have 6 months to file an accident claim against government-owned entities like Long Beach Airport. The city of Long Beach has 45 days from the date of receipt to approve your claim or send you a denial notice. A notice of denial will allow you to file a lawsuit through the court system, though you must do so within 6 months of the rejection date. If it’s been 45 days and you haven’t heard back from the applicable agency, your deadline to sue the city is two years, starting from the accident date.
Extensions beyond the statute of limitations are extremely rare, so we urge you to consult an experienced LGB slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible. Our law firm is ready to take immediate action on your case and bring you the compensation you deserve for a slip and fall or trip and fall accident at Long Beach Airport.
What is the Estimated Timeline to Settle These Cases?
We understand the urgency you feel when it comes to settling your case and obtaining payment after a serious accident at Daugherty Field. We always set out with the intention of resolving a claim within 6 months, but there are many complications that can increase the timeline to settle a LGB slip and fall lawsuit. Twelve to 18 months may be needed to settle a case involving extensive injuries and complex legal issues. Based on the city’s willingness to admit liability, it may be necessary to take your case to trial. Most lawsuits involving fall-related injuries are settled without the need for a trial. But if your case does end up before a judge, receiving a jury verdict can take up to several years.
Schedule a Free Second Opinion
As someone with an active slip and fall injury claim, you may have concerns about your case that are not being addressed by your current attorney. Our legal experts will be happy to assist you during a free second opinion consultation. After a free case evaluation, we will make suggestions on what can be done to improve your chances for a successful outcome. You can choose to take us up on our advice, but there is no pressure to do so, as our main priority is to advise you of your legal rights. Since this is a completely free service, we hope you’ll take the chance of reaching out to us for a free second opinion.
California Lawyers with Experience in Airport Accident Injury Cases
Legal advice can make all the difference when it comes to recovering physically, emotionally, and financially from a slip and fall injuries claim against Long Beach Airport. Unfortunately, money is hard to come by for most accident victims, which forces them to choose between hiring a lawyer and making ends meet.
That’s one thing you’ll never have to worry about here at Normandie Law Firm. You can hire us immediately at no upfront cost, thanks to the Zero Fee Guarantee. Even better, we only get paid by recovering your settlement award; at that point, it’s the city of Long Beach that pays your legal fees.
We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call. Contact our office to schedule a free case review if you fell and injured yourself at Daugherty Field.
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