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Aberdeen International Airport Accident Claims Guide

Aberdeen International Airport servers over 3 million passengers each year offering local flights as well as flights around the world. For most people, their time in the airport is brief, relaxing and goes without a hitch but if you are involved in an accident in Aberdeen International Airport then it can really ruin your holiday or business trip which may mean you need to make a personal injury claim for compensation.

Aberdeen International airport

Aberdeen International airport

Legal Expert are a specialist personal injury firm who can help with airport accident claims on a no win no fee basis for passengers, staff and any visitors too.

If you’d like to begin a claim please call today on 0800 073 8804 or, if you’d like to no more first, carry on reading this guide which will provide all of the information you’ll need to begin a claim.

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A Guide To Aberdeen International Airport Personal Injury Claims

It may surprise you to know that Aberdeen International Airport is the 16th busiest airport in the UK, serves over 3 million passengers a year and employs over 250 of its own staff with many more employed by retailers within the airport.

This guide will show you what you should do in the event of an accident, what amount of compensation you may be entitled to, the most common types of accident that lead to claims and how Legal Expert can help you with our no win no fee service.

Whether you’re a passenger, visitor to the airport, employed by the airport directly or work at the airport for another business, Legal Expert could help you to make an injury claim if you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault.

What Are Accidents At Airports?

To be eligible to make an airport accident claim you need to be able to prove that the accident was caused by somebody else i.e. if you trip over because you weren’t looking where you were going then you wouldn’t be able to claim but if you tripped because a cleaner failed to put warning signs out when the floor was wet, then you could claim.

Accident claims would usually be made against an establishment such as the airport or a retailer rather than the individual directly involved in the accident as the company will have insurance that covers any negligence by their staff.

There is a time limit for personal injury claims in the UK which is usually 3 years from the date the accident. There are some exceptions to this so you should contact Legal Expert as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out on compensation because of a technicality.

Airport And Airline Industry Injury Statistics

While accidents at airports do happen, the airport industry is making positive changes to try and reduce them. In the last set of statistics released roughly 243,000 people were injured at airports around the world.

According to statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive the most common types of accidents reported by airport workers were:

  • Lifting and handling – 39%
  • Slips and trips – 24%
  • Being struck by and object – 13%
  • Falls from height – 5%

We have a section, later in this guide, that explains how airport employees can make an accident at work act.

Examples Of The Most Common Ways People Can Be Injured At An Airport

The following sections outline the most common types of accidents that lead to airport compensation claims. We can help with any type of accident, even those not listed here, so long as it was caused by somebody else so you can still contact us even if your type of accident isn’t in the list here.

Slip And Fall Accidents At An Airport

Slips and trips that lead to falls can result in bruising, soft tissue damage, sprains, fractures, spinal injury and head injuries many of which can require hospital treatment and operations to remedy.

If the airport or its staff did something wrong or could’ve done something to prevent your accident from occurring, then you could seek compensation for your injuries. Reasons why somebody else could be deemed responsible include:

  • Poor lighting of faulty lighting that prevented you from seeing a trip hazard which you subsequently fell over.
  • A wet or slippery floor caused by a spillage that hadn’t been cleaned up in a timely manner.
  • Uneven surfaces such as a raised paving slab in the car park or outside the terminal.

You could also trip while boarding a plane, but the type of claim may be different as it might be the airline at fault rather than the airport.

If you believe your trip or fall was caused by somebody else, please get in touch so that we can assess your claim with you.

Airport Shuttle Bus Accidents

Shuttle buses are used to transport passengers from their airport hotel to the airport, from the car park to the terminal or from the terminal to airplane at larger airports. If you’re on a shuttle bus and it’s involved in a collision, then you could sue the airport for compensation.

The same is true if you’re involved in a collision as a pedestrian, so long as the driver of the vehicle was to blame. Other vehicles at airports such as electric vehicles within the terminal can also cause accidents which could make you eligible to claim as well.

Finally, you could be involved in a collision in your own vehicle while in the car park and, if the accident was caused by another driver, you may be able to make a claim against them directly, rather than against the airport.

Luggage Carousel And Trolley Accidents

Airport luggage carousels signify the end of a trip, but they can really ruin things if your luggage is the last piece to arrive or if you’re injured because somebody else’s luggage falls from the carousel and you are injured by it.

Another type of accident, which you wouldn’t be able to make a claim for, is when you’re sat on the carousel before it starts up and you’re injured when it does so. As they are not intended to be sat on, the airport wouldn’t be liable for any injuries sustained by you.

Another type of accident involves luggage trolleys. If your involved in a collision with one or luggage falls from somebody else’s trolley and hurts, you then we could assess what happened to determine if you’d be eligible for compensation.

General Luggage Accidents

In some circumstances, it could be possible to claim compensation if you are tripped over by luggage that has been left in inappropriate places within the airport. Get in touch with an adviser if you believe you have a claim.

Accident Or Injury On Escalators, Stairs, Or Travelators

When you use a travelator, stairway, lift or escalator within an airport then generally you’ll find them very safe and well maintained but accidents involving them do happen occasionally and could lead to a valid compensation claim against the airport.

Cases which could lead to a claim include:

  • Being trapped in a lift, no matter what length of time.
  • Falling from an escalator or on a travelator because somebody else was going in the wrong direction of travel.
  • Falling because a lift stopped suddenly. This could occur if there is a power cut or similar situation.
  • Falling on a travelator or escalator because somebody else pressed the emergency stop button when it wasn’t needed.
  • Tripping and falling down stairs when using a handrail that was defective.

Proving some of these cases can be tricky so it would be worth asking any witnesses who saw your accident happen for their contact details as they could provide vital evidence to support your claim.

If you think you may have a suitable accident claim involving any of the above then please speak with an adviser to have your claim assessed.

Eateries, Hotels, And Shops At Aberdeen International Airport

For your information, here is a list of the restaurants and shops that are based in the airport:

Shops:

  • Gallery Heinzel
  • WH Smith
  • Dixons Travel
  • Rolling Luggage
  • Travelex
  • World Duty-Free
  • Boots

Restaurants:

  • The Globe Freehouse
  • The Granite City
  • The Distilling House
  • Joe’s Coffee House
  • Costa Coffee

If you’re involved in any accidents or become ill in any of these establishments then you may be able to seek compensation against them, so please get in touch as soon as possible following your accident.

If you work in one of these outlets and have been injured then please read the section below about workplace accidents at airports.

Aberdeen International Airport Workplace Accident Claims

If you’re employed by the airport itself or by one of the retail units based there, you are protected under the Health and Safety at Work Act. It governs employers and ensures they provide a safe working environment for all staff.

If you’ve had an accident while working in Aberdeen International Airport you could claim compensation against your employer, and they can’t discipline you for it. As long as your claim is honest, then you’re within your rights to seek compensation if the accident was caused by a colleague or your employer’s negligence.

Workplace Injuries To Baggage Handlers

Earlier in this guide, we mentioned that manual handling and lifting was one of the main injuries sustained by airport workers according to the HSE. It goes without saying that this is a risk for baggage handlers and so are items falling from a height on to workers.

Even though it may be seen as a risk associated with the job, you could still ask for compensation if:

  • You, or whoever caused your accident, was never trained in manual lifting techniques
  • You weren’t shown how to use tools that are used to lift heavy items
  • You weren’t provided with protective clothing like hard work boots
  • You didn’t have enough rest breaks

If you’re unsure if you’d be eligible to make a claim, please contact one of our team for advice.

Airport Food Poisoning And Allergic Reaction Compensation

Compensation can be claimed for food poisoning incidents and also for allergic reactions caused by allergens not being identified.

When food isn’t stored, prepared, cooked or reheated correctly it can lead to food poisoning such as E Coli, norovirus or salmonella and can take many weeks for a claimant to fully recover. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and a very high temperature.

These symptoms of food poisoning may not be immediately evident and could actually appear following your flight, so you may need to see a doctor in a foreign country, but you should still go so that you receive treatment and so that medical records are created.

If symptoms become apparent prior to the flight then you may find you’re not fit enough to fly so you may need to claim compensation for the missed trip or the costs of rescheduling it.

Allergic reactions can range from irritations to fatal accidents (when they cause anaphylactic shock). They happen when a food product contains an allergen but isn’t clearly labelled to say so.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction at an airport, then try to photograph the packaging or menu to prove that it wasn’t clearly identified.

How To Start Your Aberdeen Airport Injury Or Illness Claim

Following an accident in Aberdeen International airport, there are a number of steps you could take to make claiming compensation much easier. The things we recommend are:

  • Photograph the scene of the accident. You should try to capture the root cause of the accident and do so before anything is cleared away or removed if possible.
  • Seek medical attention via a doctor or hospital to get any treatment you require. This part is essential as, without medical records that prove that you were injured, you probably won’t be able to make a claim.
  • Report the accident to the airport staff or shop staff. When you tell them, they should log an incident report. Ask for a copy of the report which you can provide as evidence. If they can’t provide a copy, then take their name and remember the time that you informed them.
  • If anybody else witnessed your accident, ask them for their contact details so that they can be contacted to provide witness statements.

All of these steps, although they may be time-consuming, could really make a difference between you winning compensation or not so be prepared to take them if you possibly can.

What Is Included In An Airport Accident, Injury, Or Illness Claim?

When making a claim for an aviation accident your solicitor is able to use different elements to justify the compensation they ask for. You should provide as much evidence for your solicitor, such as receipts so that the compensation reimburses you fully.

The different elements of a claim include:

  • General Damages – this is the compensation awarded for pain and suffering caused by your injuries (see the next section for more details).
  • Medical Expenses – such as the cost of prescriptions or any remedial treatment required.
  • Care Costs – if you require help while you’re recovering then you can claim back any associated costs.
  • Personal Property Costs – if any item of your property is damaged in your accident then you could ask for the cost of replacing the item.
  • Loss of Earnings – Some employers don’t pay full sick pay so, if you have to take time off work because of your injuries, you could claim for lost earnings
  • Travel Costs – any travelling required for medical treatment can also be claimed back.

Airport Personal Injury Claims Calculator

Using the compensation table below you can get a rough idea of the amounts of compensation different injuries are awarded under the General Damages part of your claim:

Edit
Injury / Body Part Range of Severity Maximum Compensation Further Information
Toe injury Moderate to severe Up to £49,139 This type of injury can range from minor injuries such as soft tissue damage through to dislocation, nerve damage and fractures to the and in then to severe injuries like the entire loss one or multiple toes.
Ankle injury Minor to severe Up to £61,139 This type of injury can range from minor injuries such as burns and cuts, etc. through to sprains, fractures and nerve damage and to paralysis of the entire ankle in the more severe cases.
Leg injury Minor to severe Up to £119,239 This type of injury can range from minor injuries such as basic cuts and lacerations, then on to through bone fractures, muscle damage or ligament damage and in the severest cases amputation above or below the knee.
Wrist injury Minor to severe Up to £47,720 This type of injury can range from minor injuries including burns and lacerations then on to damaged nerves, sprains, fractures (simple and compound) and paralysis of the entire wrist in the worst cases
Arm injury Moderate to severe Up to £114,829 This type of injury can range from minor injuries including soft tissue damage then through to bone fractures, ligament and muscle damage and in the most severe cases amputation above or below the elbow.
Finger injury Minor to severe Up to £21,939 This type of injury can range from minor injuries such as cuts, lacerations and bruising, then on to through fractures, nerve damage or dislocations, and then to the entire loss of one or more of the fingers.
Back injury Minor to severe Up to £141,169 This type of injury can range from minor injuries such as burns, cuts and bruising, then on to muscle damage, as well as fractured vertebrae, and finally on to some form of complete or partial paralysis.

Each injury has a range of compensation related to it, dependant on the severity. So, a bruised arm would obviously be paid less compensation than a serious fracture. At Legal Expert, we use medical professionals to demonstrate the seriousness of some injuries so that our clients get the correct payment amount.

Once we’ve spoken to you and gained more knowledge about your accident, we’ll be able to give you a more accurate estimate of the amount of compensation you may be entitled to.

Make A No Win No Fee Aberdeen International Airport Accident Claims

There are two alternative ways of making a personal injury claim which you can choose from:

  • No win no fee solicitors
  • Pay by the hour solicitors

They both do the same time of work when preparing your claim but there are differences in the way you pay them for their time and how much compensation you’ll receive.

When you pay a solicitor an hourly rate, if they win your case you keep 100% of the compensation awarded but if they lose the case you still have to pay them for their service which could mean a large legal bill and no compensation.

When you use a no win no fee solicitor, such as Legal Expert, you do have to agree that they’ll retain an agreed percentage of your compensation if they win, to cover their time and service, but if they lose you don’t have to pay them anything at all.

We believe that no win no fee is the most risk-free way of claiming compensation and that’s why it’s the only way we take cases on.

How Legal Expert Can Help You To Claim Compensation

At Legal Expert we know what is required, and what isn’t, to make a successful compensation claim which means we won’t waste your time asking irrelevant questions.

Our panel of personal injury solicitors have been making successful claims for many years, are friendly, professional and will be available throughout your claim to answer any queries that may arise.

Our no win no fee service means that we can make your claim as stress and risk-free as possible.

Contact Us To Start Your Claim

Hopefully, now that you read all of the information provided about claiming compensation for an accident in Aberdeen International airport, you’re now ready to begin your claim and would like Legal Expert on your side. If so, you can contact us via any of these channels:

  • Call us free on 0800 073 8804 and one of our staff will begin your claim with you.
  • Email us a brief summary of your accident to office@legalexpert.co.uk and we’ll get back to you.
  • Use our live chat feature, 7 days a week, where we can answer any questions you may have.
  • Fill in this online form and we’ll begin your claim. It’ll take around 10 minutes to complete.

When you get in touch, we’ll begin with a free consultation where we take the details from you regarding your accident and injuries, then we assess it on its merits and then let you know the chances of successfully claiming compensation for you.

Where Can I Find Out More?

Hopefully, this guide has provided you with all of the information you need to help you decide whether you’ll lodge a claim or not. Here are some more useful guides for your reference:

Food Poisoning Guide – A guide to the symptoms, treatment and prevention of food poisoning by the NHS.

Health and Safety at Work Act – The UK Government’s legislation to protect workers and ensure a safe working environment.

Food Allergy Claims – a detailed look at how allergic reactions happen and how much compensation can be awarded.

British Airways Compensation Claims – A guide to making a claim for injuries sustained on British Airways flights.

Other Guides You Can Check Out