Air travel is said to be one of the safest ways to travel, that said, more of us suffer from a fear of flying than we do driving or being a passenger in a car. Funny, when it’s considered that we are more likely, on the balance of probability, to be involved in a road traffic collision than in a plane accident.
However, there are a number of different types of accidents that can occur whilst being a passenger on an aeroplane – you may be unaware of. For example; passengers could contract food poisoning from the in-flight meal. They could trip or slip over incorrectly stored luggage, or liquid on the floor. Passengers could also sustain injuries from incorrectly stored luggage falling out of overhead cabinets. All of these types of injures can, and have occurred on aeroplanes, and all have been compensated against.
Another injury often sustained on an aeroplane is burns, often contracted whilst passengers are enjoying a hot beverage, as the cabin crew serve drinks – burns are quite often sustained. As are injuries with the food carts the cabin crew use. In a case in the USA it was reported that one passenger sustained serious injuries as a runaway food cart rolled into him at such as speed causing serious injury to his shoulder.
Accidents occurring during turbulence and crash landings, when luggage and other articles may suddenly begin flying around the cabin at such a speed due to the turbulence or movement of the aircraft, can also cause serious injury.
It is best to be aware that accidents occurring on aeroplanes have a shorter limitation period of two years as opposed to most other personal injury claims, which have a three year limitation period. What this actually means is that if you were involved in an accident on an aeroplane you would only have two years in which to make a personal injury claim. Unlike in most other personal injury claims in which you would have three years.
It is also important that the legal specialist acting for you in any claim for compensation is fully aware of the circumstances of the accident. Particularly in respect of where the accident actually occurred. For instance, where exactly did the accident occur, also what caused your actual injury, this will enable your legal expert to determine whether your claim is a product liability claim due to the design of the aircraft or if the injury you sustained was as a result of negligence on the part of the airline, as well as addressing any limitation date issue that there may be.
When considering the possibility of the accidents above it is easy to see why so many checks are carried out on by the cabin crew before landing and take-off, in order to ensure the aircrafts passenger safety is paramount. In order to keep yourself safe during flights remember the above scenarios and accidents described and always pay attention during the health and safety video shown just before take-off.