Injuries While on an Airplane

The fear of crashing while on an airplane is one of the most common, if not also understandable, phobias that people can have. After all, flying enforces you to entrust complete strangers with your safe passage tens of thousands of feet above the ground. However, it is more likely you’ll be injured by some much smaller means while on a plane rather than a dramatic crash. In these instances, the Cambridge personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP can help you get started on a claim today.

Planes elicit phobias for various reasons. The fear of gravity and unnatural feeling of being so high in the sky is, certainly, one of the primary reasons. However, another large reason people fear planes so much is because it compounds another common fear – claustrophobia, the fear of being in a small confined space for a prolonged period of time.

Airplane cabins, especially depending on the airline you’re utilizing, can be incredibly small and cramped. This not only makes for an uncomfortable flight in some instances, but can increase the chance for certain types of injuries, such as:

Head injuries

From something as simple as violently bumping your head when entering the plane and sustaining a concussion, to something more involved like an overhead compartment latch failing and sending someone’s heavy, metal-reinforced suitcase barreling down on top of your head while you’re least expecting it, airplanes can be the host of serious head injuries that result in traumatic injuries.

Injuries from food carts

While it may seem silly, the food carts that ferry snacks and drinks through the aisles to passengers on the plane can be heavy and act as battering rams, which can result in serious injuries if a passenger is struck – especially if the passenger is frail or is a senior citizen. Such incidents can result in deep bone contusions or even broken bones, depending on where the individual is struck.

Food poisoning

While the old cliché has left airplane food with a bit of a reputation – “What is the deal with airline food? – people still rely on airline meals to sustain them throughout lengthy flights every day. These meals must be prepared to basic health standards and, if a passenger becomes sick or experiences food poisoning as a result of eating an in-flight meal, the airline could be facing big liability for their negligence.

Injuries from turbulence

Airplane passengers dread turbulence – which is caused by rapid changes in air pressure and velocity and can result in a smooth plane ride turning into a bumpy, stomach-dropping nightmare. While turbulence normally shouldn’t result in much more than an upset stomach and some nausea, sometimes turbulence can be intense and cause unbuckled passengers to actually be catapulted to the top of the aircraft, potentially causing major injuries. Modern technology has given us the ability to see mostly all turbulence prior to hitting it, so an airline that fails to warn passengers about incoming turbulence may be liable if it could be proved they had the means to prevent an injury that occurred as a result.

Once You Land, Let Us Hit the Ground Running

Injuries on an airplane can result in costly medical expenses and long hospital stays that result in time missed from work and lost income. The personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP have over 50 years of experience advocating on behalf of our clients in Boston, Cambridge and throughout Massachusetts – or wherever their travels take them – when they are injured through no fault of their own.

We have a dedicated staff of personal injury professionals who will take the time to learn about your individual case and assess the best way to proceed and pursue a settlement or a personal injury claim, resulting in the best chance for you to earn financial compensation to help you overcome your injury. If an airline displayed negligence leading you to be injured on board one of their planes, we will hold them accountable.

Contact us online or call for a free consultation to go over the details of your case today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.