![A blue and white airplane is parked at a gate with a jet bridge attached at an airport terminal. The view is seen through large glass windows flanked by rows of empty seats, with other airport facilities and planes visible in the background.](https://www.hptriallaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/oskar-kadaksoo-DDBDkz0p918-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg)
This holiday season, you may catch a flight to see friends and family, or take a vacation. Many people don’t realize it, but there are a lot of ways an injury can occur in an airport. Because an airport has so many different facets that require proper maintenance and see thousands of visitors every day, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. If you or a loved one has been injured in an airport accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Read on to learn more about airport accidents and what you should do in the event of an injury.
What are the Most Common Airport Accidents?
Some of the most common accidents to occur in an airport include:
- Slipping and falling on a wet bathroom floor or spilled beverage
- Airport construction and renovation
- Faulty elevators, escalators, conveyor belts
- Poorly maintained parking lots: potholes, insufficient lighting, insufficient security, etc.
- Curbside accidents
- Stairway accidents
What Should I do if I Become Injured?
If you are injured in an airport, the first step to take should be to call 911. If you are seriously injured, you will need to seek proper medical attention. This will allow you to receive medical treatment, while also providing you with documentation of your injury. When it comes to a personal injury case, fulfilling the burden of proof is always important. If you are injured due to another party’s negligence, you will need to prove that some form of negligence occurred. This can include taking photos and videos of the hazardous conditions that caused your accident and gathering the contact information of anyone who witnessed your injury. An experienced personal injury attorney may be able to collect further proof, such as security footage of the incident.
How Long do I Have to File a Claim?
When it comes to filing a personal injury claim, there is a certain deadline by which you must file your claim. This deadline is known as a statute of limitations. Generally, in New York, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is three years. This means if you do not file your claim within three years from the date of your accident, you likely lose your chance to receive compensation. Additionally, most airports are government property. This means you will have to file a Notice of Claim. A Notice of Claim will let the government know that you intend to pursue legal action. This must be filed early on in the process. To ensure that you don’t miss any deadlines and lose your chance at recovering compensation, you should reach out to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an airport accident, contact our firm today to speak with a skilled personal injury attorney.
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED WESTCHESTER COUNTY FIRM
Hausman & Pendzick effectively represent victims of negligence in Westchester County and across the state of New York. We understand how challenging life can be without financial compensation for serious injuries you have wrongly sustained. If you need a knowledgeable and skilled personal injury attorney to help you recover compensation after an accident, contact Hausman & Pendzick today.