Located just 10 miles from Downtown Oakland, Oakland International Airport offers domestic flights throughout the U.S. and international travel to Central America, Mexico, and the Azores. The airport is also used for cargo flights to Japan and China for companies like FedEx and UPS. Owned and operated by the Port of Oakland, OAK is busy from morning till night, which makes it prone to all sorts of accidents. In particular, those on the premises are susceptible to injuries from a slip and fall or trip and fall.
Most of these accidents are preventable through reasonable means, like inspecting the property and cleaning up, removing, or fixing hazards right away. If there is a situation that will take time to resolve, warning signs can alert others to stay away from the area. Failing to take such actions is viewed as negligence by the property owner and/or operator under California’s premises liability law. If you or a loved one fell due to a dangerous condition at Oakland International Airport, you may be eligible for an OAK airport slip and fall lawsuit or trip and fall injury claim. An attorney for slip and fall accidents at Oakland International Airport is available to assist you, so contact us to schedule a free case evaluation.
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Liability for an Accident at Oakland International Airport
Most cases involving a fall-related injury at OAK are blamed on the airport, as they have a duty of care of ensure the safety of their guests and visitors. Certainly, it’s hard to deny that there are countless hazards that can cause someone to fall down at an airport. Thus, it’s the airport that will most likely be named as the defendant in a trip and fall or slip and fall lawsuit against Oakland International Airport. Here are just some of the problems that can lead to a fall-related accident at an airport:
- Water on the floor, especially in bathrooms and around public fountains
- Slippery floors from drinks, food, grease, cleaning fluids, etc.
- Broken hand rails (or ones that are poorly designed)
- Broken stairs / steps
- Uneven flooring
- Poor lighting
- Sticky floors
- Cords and wires in high traffic areas
- No Wet Floor signs
- Hazards in the parking lot – broken concrete, garbage, fruit falling from trees
- Puddles, snow, ice and other weather-related conditions
Sometimes, an accident is caused by more than one party, which would give you the right to sue someone else other than the airport. If, for example, you fell off the escalators at OAK, the cause of your injuries may be a defect that was caused by the manufacturer or the company that installed the escalators. Other examples of third parties that may be liable for your accident include:
- The airline
- Shuttle or charter bus company
- Public Transportation company – Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
- Rideshare services, like Lyft and Uber
- Delivery companies
- Businesses operating within the airport – Starbucks, restaurants, duty free shops
We know this is a lot to take in right now, but our lawyers are here to guide you through the process and fight for the compensation you deserve from an accident at Oakland International Airport.
Common Injuries from a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall
To give you a sense of how serious these accidents can be, here is a list of the most common injuries we see among victims of slip and fall or trip and fall incidents at an airport:
- Cuts and infections
- Soft tissue injuries (tearing of the tendons and ligaments)
- Broken hip
- Joint dislocation
- Fractured kneecap
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neck injuries
- Herniated disc
- Spinal cord damage
- Sprains or fractures in the hands, wrist, and ankles
- Ruptured spleen
- Loss of function due to nerve damage
- Chronic pain
- Death
Fatality is tragically common among fall accident victims, who can die from the impact of their injuries. As the loved one of a deceased victim, you may qualify to receive wrongful death benefits, such as medical expenses, funeral costs, and loss of consortium. For more information on wrongful death lawsuits from an Oakland International Airport slip and fall lawyer, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Steps You Should Take if You’ve Fallen Down at an Airport
If you fall and injure yourself at Oakland International Airport, taking the right steps will help you gather evidence and protect your right to monetary compensation. Even if your injuries don’t seem that serious, please follow the procedures listed below:
Call out to airport staff for assistance.
It’s essential to establish that your injuries occurred at the airport, so make sure to get the attention of security or another employee, who will initiate an incident report. Be very careful when you are asked questions about the accident. Remarks like “I’m sorry” or “I wasn’t paying attention” can end up being harmful to your case.
Document your injuries, the accident scene, and damage to your property.
Take pictures of any visible injuries and property damage, as well as the hazard that caused you to fall. Keep an eye out for security cameras as well that may have captured your accident.
Get written statements or contact information from witnesses.
If anyone saw you get injured, ask them for contact information or a written statement, which can be used as evidence in a lawsuit against the airport.
Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Medical records are the most valuable form of proof in a slip and fall injury case, so make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible. Along with your medical bills, prescriptions, etc., make sure to save anything else that can be used to substantiate your claim (witness statements, your clothing and shoes from the accident, proof of missing hours / days from work).
Reach out to a premises liability lawyer that’s experienced in airport accident claims.
Contact us right away to learn about the legal actions that are available to you. Representation from an attorney is the best way to recover the highest possible settlement from an Oakland International Airport injury case.
Restitution for Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall Injury Victims
By filing an accident injury claim against Oakland International Airport, you can recover a variety of payments, such as:
- Cost of medical treatments, including therapy for emotional trauma
- Lost wages due to time off from work
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Damage to your belongings
- Cost of legal representation
- Punitive damages
Learning about the specific damages you are entitled to will help you receive maximum payment if you fell and slipped at the airport or tripped over something that the airport knew about or should have known about. For a free consultation with an OAK airport slip and fall lawyer, please don’t delay in giving us a call.
How Much is the Average Settlement for an OAK Fall Accident Lawsuit?
For anyone that fell and got injured at Oakland International Airport, knowing what they can potentially receive from a lawsuit is a primary concern. However, figuring out a fair amount of damages to ask for depends on many factors, including:
- The extent of your OAK airport slip and fall injuries – is there permanent damage that will affect your ability to perform basic tasks or continue your job duties?
- The number of parties that are responsible for your accident
- The degree of negligence by the defendant (if there was gross negligence by the airport, you may have a case for punitive damages
- Emotional trauma associated with a slip and fall / trip and fall accident – anxiety, depression, phobias, PTDS, etc.
If we had to give a range of settlement values, we would say that an Oakland International Airport slip and fall lawsuit is worth around $250,000 to over $2 million for moderate to severe injury cases. A range of probable values for an airport trip and fall claim is around $175,000 to $2.75 million, based on our past verdicts and settlements. Please be aware that these are estimates at the end of the day. Give us a call to discuss the value of your own case with an OAK trip and fall attorney or a lawyer experienced in slip and fall accidents at Oakland International Airport.
Settling an Injury Claim against OAK – How Long Does it Take?
The process of settling an airport slip and fall injuries claim can take anywhere from a few weeks to over 2 years, based on many factors that are unique to your circumstances. As a general rule, cases with severe injuries (loss of function, brain injury, etc.) take the longest to resolve, but this is not an absolute rule. No matter what, we strive to recover all injury payments within 6 months, but the complications that come up along the way will determine how long your case will take from start to finish. For more information on the settlement process for an OAK trip and fall lawsuit or slip and fall accident claim, call us to today to schedule a free case review.
Statute of Limitations – How Much Time Do I have to File a Lawsuit?
If you are suing a private entity, like a homeowner or supermarket, you would have 2 years to file a slip and fall or trip and fall lawsuit. However, lawsuits against public entities, like the Port of Oakland, must begin as a compensation claim, which you will need to submit within 6 months from the incident date. Once the city agency receives your claim, they have the option to approve or deny your request, which you will be notified of in writing. If the city denies your claim, you can petition the court for a lawsuit, which must be done within 6 months of the rejection date. In a situation where the city fails to respond within 45 days, you have 2 years starting from your accident date to file a lawsuit against Oakland International Airport.
As you can see, the timeline is fairly tight when it comes to lawsuits against government-owned properties. To ensure that your claim is filed on time, contact us immediately to speak with a lawyer that’s experienced in airport accident liability cases.
Free Second Opinion from an OAK Slip and Fall Lawyer
Right now, you may have a pending slip and fall claim against Oakland International Airport that you have concerns about. Alternatively, you may be in the middle of an Oakland International Airport trip and fall lawsuit, but you don’t understand why it’s taking so long to settle your case. If you would like a fresh perspective on your case from an experienced premises liability attorney, please reach out to us for a free second opinion. Our lawyers are available to discuss any questions that are on your mind and provide you with solutions that may be helpful to your case. Since there is no cost to you for a second opinion, there’s nothing to lose by contacting us and taking some time to meet with an airport fall accident injury lawyer.
The Fall Accident Injury Experts of Normandie
When you are suffering from an accident that was caused by someone else, it’s essential to learn about your rights and the legal options that are available to you. If you are in need of guidance on an OAK slip and fall lawsuit, our lawyers are available to meet with you during a free, one-on-one consultation. We also have Oakland International Airport trip and fall attorneys that can help you determine the best course of action to recover your losses.
After a free case evaluation, you can decide if we are the right law firm to represent you. If so, you will pay nothing upfront, since our lawyers work on contingency. With the Zero Fee Guarantee, all legal fees are paid by the City of Oakland, along with your compensation award. If we don’t win your case, you won’t be charged for a single penny of our expenses.
If you’re ready to explore your legal options with a California airport accident injury lawyer, contact the offices of Normandie Law Firm.
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