Airport Personal Injuries
Atlanta Airport Personal Injuries
Getting injured at an airport can destroy one’s travel plans. If the airport overlooked hazardous conditions, the airport management or the City may be liable for your injuries. At Atlanta Airport, nearly a million people move about the airport on foot or by vehicles each year. They use elevators and escalators to get from one floor to the next and vast amounts of luggage go from check-in to security to baggage carousels. Consequently, accidents are prone to happen in such a fast-moving setting.
An Overview
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, also known as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson is situated seven miles south of Atlanta, Georgia’s Capital and business district. It is the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic and number of landings and take-offs, serving approximately 92 million passengers and almost 1 million flights in 2011.
Atlanta Airport is a focus city for Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, and ExpressJet. In fact, Atlanta’s Delta hub is the largest airline hub in the world. The airport has 199 domestic and international gates. Many of the aforementioned flights are domestic flights where Atlanta serves as a major hub for travel throughout the Southeastern United States. The airport also provides international service to Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, North America, and South America.
Other Airlines Flying in and out of Atlanta Airport Include:
- Aeromexico
- Air Canada Express (operated by Jazz Air)
- Air France
- AirTran Airways (operated by Southwest Airlines)
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- American Eagle
- British Airways
- Delta Air Lines
- Delta Connection (operated by Comair, Compass Airlines, ExpressJet, and Pinnacle Airlines)
- Frontier Airlines
- Georgia Skies
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Lufthansa
- Spirit Airlines
- United Airlines
- United Express (operated by Chautauqua Airlines, ExpressJet, Mesa Airlines, Shuttle America, and SkyWest Airlines)
- US Airways
- US Airways Express (operated by Air Wisconsin, Mesa Airlines, and Republic Airlines)
Common Airport Accidents
Atlanta Airport is a location with an amazing amount of pedestrian traffic. Unfortunately, accidents can be caused by dangerous conditions, negligent actions, or ineptitude on the part of those involved. Accident victims are entitled to compensation if their injuries are caused by the neglectful or irresponsible actions of others.
Slip-and-fall injuries are common occurrences at airports because people are often preoccupied and in a rush. Unsafe conditions coupled with travelers often being preoccupied with their luggage, and keeping up with family members and/ or friends with whom they are traveling. All of these things can cause serious injuries if someone is caught up in an accident.
Dangerous surfaces can cause serious injuries to those unfortunate enough to slip and fall. However, there are also many risks that are exclusive to airports, such as moving sidewalks or horizontal escalators that are supposed to facilitate the rapid transport of passengers. An inadequately maintained escalator or elevator can cause serious injury. Atlanta Airport also provides courtesy carts for people who have difficulty walking. Serious injury can result if a courtesy car is negligently operated and runs someone over.
Given its fast-paced environment, it should come as no surprise that the food courts at Atlanta Airport are potentially hazardous areas. This is because many travelers simply eat-and-run, often neglecting to clean up after themselves. Therefore, airport managers and maintenance supervisors are required to ensure that all food court areas are free of spills, waste, and other substances that can possibly cause injury.
Serious injuries are also caused by Jetways. They can stop working properly by providing too much space between the end of the ramp and the planes door. Children are especially at risk of getting stuck in the gap or injuring him or herself while boarding or exiting the plane.
Slip-and-fall injuries frequently occur and can vary from small bumps and bruises to broken bones, concussions, and paralysis. Other possible causes of injury at Atlanta Airport include:
- Adverse weather conditions
- Construction areas
- Elevators
- Parking lots
- Rippled carpets
- Slippery tiling
- Stairs and loose handrails
- Uneven sidewalks
- And more
When Injured at Atlanta Airport
- Atlanta Airport provides assistance concerning medical issues by way of airport police, fire department workers, paramedics, and its on-site clinic. You should also be provided with transportation to a nearby hospital should your injuries require such care.
- Request that an incident report be filed and that you are provided a copy of this report before you continue on with your travel.
- Don’t presume that airline or airport personnel know you need help; ask for it.
- Find a courtesy of emergency telephone so the operator can connect you to or give you the phone numbers of on-site emergency help. Do not phone the airports main number. This will only consume important response time.
- The deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is 2 years from the date of the incident, but you must act quickly to identify the proper defendants (i.e. the airline, the airport, the maintenance company, the City of Atlanta, or any number of third parties). Unfortunately, airports are renowned for destroying evidence. Therefore, the sooner the lawsuit is filed the better chance there is to gather the necessary evidence to support the claim.That is why you, if you have been seriously injured in an airport accident, you should not delay in calling an experienced attorney to help you.
- Quite often, lawsuits must be filed in the jurisdiction in which you are hurt. The airport and AATC are subject to this jurisdiction and Georgia law applies. Therefore, it is advisable to retain an attorney from Georgia.
Robert J. Fleming is a practicing attorney in Atlanta, Georgia with over 20 years of experience. If you would like to discuss your case or simply have a legal question about your injuries, call Mr. Fleming at (800) 613-1923 or (404) 525-5150 or you can contact us online. We are here to help.