Aviation accidents are not limited to the skies but can also occur at an airport, including the John Wayne Airport. The tarmac and terminals are wrought with hazards. One bad move and you can miss your trip, sent away for medical treatment. Serving Orange County and the Greater Los Angeles area, John Wayne Airport is a commercial and general aviation airport and a gateway to Southern California that has around 22 gates across three terminals.
In 2021, John Wayne Airport registered 7,700,489 passengers. With so much traffic, there is a lot of chaos in the backend, which can lead to errors or negligence on behalf of employees, increasing the risk of airport and aviation accident injuries and even death. Ehline Law and our personal injury attorneys have over 15 years of experience helping injured passengers and their family members fight claims against negligent airports and their insurance companies.
Contact our John Wayne Airport terminal accident attorneys to learn more about your rights if you’ve suffered injuries at the John Wayne Airport. The attorneys at our law firm are not only experts in bringing lawsuits under the Federal Tort Claims Act, but we are also knowledgeable about California State Court actions.
Main Causes of Airport Accidents Include Car Accident Claims
Here are the primary causes of most Greater Los Angeles airport and tarmac accidents:
- Lack of proper maintenance on escalators and elevators
- Air traffic control negligence
- Flight crew safety violations (unsecured overhead luggage, etc.)
- Spilled fluids and liquids
- Distracted driving car accidents in the parking lot, pick up and drop zone.
Types of Accidents That Can Happen at John Wayne Airport
A lot can go wrong at an airport, including John Wayne Airport, causing severe injuries to passengers and employees. In the worst case, an airport accident can lead to wrongful death. Those who get off luck may only require immediate medical attention and get sent home. Others may be stuck as inpatients with serious injuries like broken bones.
The following are some types of accidents that can happen at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA:
- Aircraft accident during boarding or disembarkation
- Car accident involving electric passenger caddies at terminals
- Aviation accident due to negligent on-ground staff
- Slip and fall accidents due to freshly mopped floors or spilled beverages
- Food poisoning at the cafe and other eateries at John Wayne Airport
- Helicopter crashes and aviation accidents during charter flights.
Many other types of accidents can happen at John Wayne Airport, leaving passengers with debilitating injuries. The fatality rate for all aircraft types remains 0.84% of fatal accidents caused out of every 100,000 flight hours booked.
Injuries That Passengers Can Sustain at John Wayne Airport
Whether it was a helicopter accident or a slip and fall near a terminal, the type of injuries sustained depends on the nature of the accident.
The following are some of the common injuries sustained by traveling passengers at airports:
- Concussions or traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Food poisoning.
Depending on the accident’s severity, personal injury victims can experience serious physical and mental pain affecting their quality of life. Victims often face financial hardships after paying medical bills and losing income due to missed work. It is essential for them to discuss their accident case with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Damages You Can Recover from an Airport or Aviation Accident at John Wayne Airport
Whether it is car accidents or any other accidents in John Wayne Airport, injured victims may be able to recover compensatory damages if their injuries result from another’s negligence. Typically, there are two types of compensatory damages injured passengers can recover: as follows.
Economic (Special Damages)
After suffering an airport or aviation accident, injured victims will have to bear out-of-pocket expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, for which they can pursue economic damages in a personal injury claim.
Non-economic (General Damages)
An accident can leave a victim traumatized and in emotional distress. Non-economic damages compensate them for the non-monetary losses experienced following their injuries, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, reduced quality of life, loss of consortium, and more.
The damages one can recover depend on the type of accident and nature of injuries sustained. For example, car accident victims who experience whiplash injuries due to the electric caddy crash may sustain whiplash injuries which may not be as significant as slip and fall accident victims who may suffer traumatic brain injuries.
Orange County accident victims such as this must work with an experienced personal injury attorney to determine the damages they can recover and increase their chances of maximum compensation against all common carriers and others.
Who Is Responsible for an Accident at John Wayne Airport?
When an accident occurs at any airport, it is crucial to investigate the causes to determine the liable parties in the vast majority of cases. For example, the airline could be liable for damages if a plane crash occurs because of a violation of Federal Aviation Administration regulations. If the electric car crashes at a terminal, causing injuries, the airport will be responsible for the damages.
Personal injury cases are not always straightforward. In case of airport accidents, it could be the airport, the airline, a third-party company, an eatery or restaurant, or another passenger responsible for your injuries. An experienced personal injury attorney can help investigate the accident and hold the responsible parties accountable for your loss.
Should You Hire a Personal Injury Attorney Following Your Airport Injuries?
Filing a personal injury claim against an at-fault party’s insurance company without legal representation is a serious risk. Insurers are notorious for reducing claims or rejecting them as lower payouts mean higher profits and happy shareholders.
Having an experienced personal injury attorney not only means they’ll handle the insurance company for you but also deal with investigating the accident, gathering evidence, establishing elements of a personal injury claim, and negotiating a fair settlement for your loss.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Ehline Law OC Airport Accident Lawyers
You just learned about airport accidents at OC Airport. Are you seeking a free no, obligation consultation with a top-rated Los Angeles personal injury attorney? We have a proven track record for meticulously navigating and litigating serious injury airport claims, and we’ve recovered millions of dollars on behalf of accident victims and their families. If you suffered injuries in a John Wayne Airport accident due to another’s negligence, contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a free consultation.
You may be able to pursue compensation for violations of safety regulations or human error. You can also use our convenient online contact form to detail all the evidence of significant danger or safety regulation violations you think caused your injury for a more fruitful consultation with our compassionate legal team. As always, we honor a no-win no, fee promise till we obtain a positive outcome and prove negligence on your behalf.
