Plane Turbulence Injuries

Many countries have lifted the restrictions with regards to domestic and international travel by air as the COVID-19 pandemic eases. For many who need to travel for work, leisure or to visit family this is a great relief. Traveling by air comes with many fears other than the corona virus spreading; it includes the chances of airplane accidents. True, the number of airline accidents has reduced in recent years. However, there still exists many in-flight injuries as a result of turbulence. This article will discuss some common airplane turbulence accidents.

It must be noted that statistically air travel is at the safest level that it has ever been. This is mainly as a result of the numerous safety protocols associated with the manufacture and maintenance of aircrafts. However, it must be noted that there has been an increase in the number of in-flight injuries connected to turbulence. Some injuries associated with turbulence may be also connected to acts of negligence on the part of the airline, flight crew or manufacturers of some parts of the aircraft. If you have been injured in a plane accident Wasilla, you may be entitled to recover damages.

It must be noted that there is a marginal difference in the success of litigation of injuries sustained on an international flight and a domestic one. This is because international flights are governed by the Montreal Convention; which means that there are different rules associated with injuries sustained on an international flight as compared to those sustained on a domestic flight.

Injuries sustained on a domestic flight are governed by common law negligence. As a result, the injured individual is required to show that the injury was caused mainly due to an act of negligence. Therefore, just because there was turbulence on the plane and you were injured is not enough to pursue a personal injury case. Negligence must be a factor in relation to the turbulence that produced the injury. For example, turbulence can be foreseeable as a result of aviation technology and weather radar technology. Thus, the flight crew is able to know that there will be turbulence on their flight. If the flight crew fails to take adequate steps to avoid the turbulence or warn their passengers in time about the turbulence, and passengers are injured as a result, the passengers may be entitled to sue the airline for negligence.

Some common in-flight accidents that occur as a result of turbulence include:

• Falling baggage – flight crews are trained to secure carry-on baggage in overhead bins. When carry-on baggage falls out of overhead bins and injures a passenger, a personal injury claim may be made for negligence on the part of the flight crew for failing to secure the latch of the overhead bins or overstuffing the bins.
• Beverage burns – all airlines have safety regulations with regards to when hot drinks can be served. During turbulence hot beverages are not to be served. However, beverage burns often happen due to cups slipping off flimsy fold-down or unlevel trays.
• Aisle trip hazards – crew members may be negligent for failing to take proper measures to inspect and clear the aisles of potential trip and fall hazards.