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British Airways Flight Personal Injury Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation For A Accident on a British Airways (BA) Flight?

There are many different incidents that can lead to personal injury compensation claims. This also includes inflight injuries on airplanes. Although such cases are, thankfully, rare, they do happen, and it is important to know what to do if you are the victim of one. In this guide, we will take a look at British Airways flight accident claims in particular.

British Airways flightThis is the first step when it comes to BA claims is to establish whether you actually have the basis for one. No one wants to waste their time on a claim if they don’t have a chance of compensation. Firstly, you need to show that someone else is responsible for your suffering. If you are partially to blame you still may be able to claim, but the amount you receive will be lower to reflect your involvement. Aside from this, it is imperative that the incident occurred within the personal injury claims time limit. This is the time limit on all claims and it starts from the date of the incident, unless the injury occurred over time. It tends to be two years for flights and may very, but it can be more for other injuries example RSI to staff members, so it is best not to wait around. Aside from this, you must have seen a doctor for your injuries. The medical report they provide you with is a necessary piece of evidence when it comes to making a claim.

If this is applicable to the incident you experienced on a BA flight, we can help you to make a personal injury claim here at Legal Expert. General flight injury claims is something we have years of experience in. You can reach us on 0800 073 8804. But first, make sure you continue reading to discover everything you need to know regarding these claims.

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A Guide To British Airways Passenger Or Crew Injury Claims

While everyone looks forward to their holiday, it is sad but true that a number of holidaymakers experience vacations from hell because they suffer an injury. This is made even worse if the injury occurs on a flight on the way to the destination in question. While nothing can reverse time, one thing you can do is get the compensation you deserve for the accident that happened to you. This could cover your holiday losses, as well as covering any treatment needed and much more.

In this guide, we are going to take a look at British Airways claims, in particular. After all, this is one of the world’s most popular airlines, and even more so here in the UK. Based on flight size, it is the biggest UK airline. When it comes to passengers carried, it is the second biggest, falling only behind EasyJet. London Heathrow is the main hub for British Airways, however, the company flies from a huge number of airports.

We will provide you with all of the details you need if you have been injured while on a BA plane. Airline negligence cases cover such a huge scope of accidents, from coffee burn incidents to trolley accidents. It’s not just about plane crashes! Therefore, we will look at these cases in further depth, as well as revealing how much compensation you may be entitled to, how to launch a claim, and much more. So, keep on reading.

What Are British Airways Plane Accidents?

What actually constitutes a British Airways flight accident, injury, or illness? We are not just talking about a crash, but there are lots of other ways in which people can be injured on a flight, from boarding, through their time on the aircraft, to disembarking at their destination. We will provide some examples on this in the next section. However, it is important to recognise that while in the care of British Airways, they are responsible for their staff and equipment, and if they fail you, you can claim.

What Happens If You Are Injured On A Plane?

It is important to recognise that you can only sue airlines for negligence if they are deemed to be at fault. A good example of this is when it comes to luggage falling on the head of a passenger. If a passenger drops something from the overhead locker on top of them, this does not present grounds for a claim. However, if cabin crew did not correctly check and lock the overhead locker, this could present grounds for claiming.

Airline Passenger Rights In The UK And EU

It is important to be aware of your rights as an airline passenger. There are a number of different regulations in place, including the Council Regulation (EC) No 2027/97, which outlines the obligations of community air carriers. It states that airlines must pay compensation in the event of injury or death. Therefore, if you lose a loved one in a plane crash, you will be able to make a claim for compensation, and we can help you to do so. The regulations also state that customers should be compensated for damaged, lost, or destroyed baggage, as well as passenger delays.

Flight Accident Claims And The Montreal Convention

You may not have heard of the Montreal Convention before. However, it is important when it comes to compensation. This enables air passengers to secure compensation if they have experience luggage problems and/or travel disruption. There are international carriages covered between 120 countries, and so you can be largely confident that your BA flight will be covered here. You can always call us for more information if you want to make a British Airways claim for something like this, as opposed to claiming for an injury.

Causes And Types Of Passenger And In-Flight Injuries

Here are some of the different types of accident, injury, or illnesses a person could have suffered and which they could claim compensation for…

  • Scalds and burns
  • Accidents involving disabled passengers
  • Trolley accidents
  • Overhead locker accidents
  • Food poisoning
  • Slips & falls
  • Injuries caused by unexpected turbulence.

You can find some more details on these in the following sections.

British Airways In-Flight Scald And Burn Injuries

There have been some horror coffee burn and tea burn incidents on planes. If you have experienced a passenger injury from a hot tea spill, you could be entitled to compensation if the air steward is to blame, for example, if he or she spilt a drink on you or if they served something at the wrong temperature. While turbulence cannot be helped on planes, members of staff should not be serving drinks during this.

Disabled Passenger Accidents

Disabled passengers could be injured if they are not secured in their airline seat, not brought necessary medication during the flight, or when embarking/ disembarking the airline if the crew do not take adequate care and attention. The UK Government have outlined regulations that all airlines should follow, as well as providing disabled people with advice when flying, for example, you should make sure you inform the airline at least 48 hours before your departure about your disability so that they can provide you with adequate assistance.

Inflight Aircraft Trolley Accidents

Some people reading this might have watched those plane films whereby there is a bit of turbulence, and for dramatic effect, one of the trolleys goes flying down the aisle on the plane. However, this is not merely the thing of movies. These trolleys are heavy and they often contain a lot of items. They can cause damage if they are not used and stored properly. If you have been injured in this manner, we can help you to get compensation.

Airport And Aircraft Slip And Fall Accidents

Slips, trips, and falls are undoubtedly one of the most common type of personal injury claims. They can happen in so many different ways while on holiday or while in the UK. When it comes to airport and aircraft claims, slips and trips can happen when getting on and off the plane, however, there are other ways they can occur too. You may slip when on the plane itself because of something that has been spilled on the floor. You could also claim against BA if you have been injured in a slip, trip or fall that has occurred in one of their airport lounges if BA is at fault.

Injuries Caused By Luggage Falling From Overhead Lockers

If the overhead lockers have not been correctly secured by cabin crew during before take-off, they may come open and items fall out causing injuries during take off or landing. This can cause serious head injuries. If this has happened, you could claim compensation. Witness statements can be very useful with these types of claims, as you will need to prove that the airline staff are to blame. You certainly cannot claim if a bag has fallen on your head because you did not store it properly.

In-flight Injuries Caused By Unexpected Turbulence

If the turbulence is unexpected by the passengers or cabin crew (warning has not been given by the flight crew) then you may have grounds to make a claim. If you have ever been on a plane when there has been turbulence, you will know that the pilot typically comes on the speaker and the seatbelt sign will come on too. If this has not happened and you have fallen or something has crashed into you, and you have injured yourself, you can make a claim. Moreover, this ties into the earlier point regarding how members of staff should not be serving food or drinks while there is turbulence. If staff members have been doing this and you have been injured as a consequence, you can make a claim.

Allergic Reactions And Food Poisoning Claims

We have also helped many people to make claims for food poisoning. There are a number of different ways that this could happen on a BA flight. Firstly, you can claim if the food you have consumed has made you sick because it has not been stored, prepared, or cooked in the correct manner. If you have been given food that is past its sell-by date, you can also make a claim. It is also worth pointing out here that you can make a claim if you have had an allergic reaction because the food you consumed was not labelled properly and, therefore, you were unaware that it had a specific allergen in it. You could also claim compensation for food allergy claims if you have told the cabin crew what food you can not eat that you are allergic to and then if they serve you the wrong food and you have a allergic reaction that has caused a injury you could be eligible to claim compensation.

Damaged Seats Causing Accidents And Injuries

Another common example of injuries and accidents that can happen on a plane is when someone is injured because of damaged seats. This could be because the seat in front has come loose, and the person in front has crashed on top of you. It could be because of a broken piece of furniture, causing a sharp edge and an injury in this way. Broken seat rests can also cause issues too.

What Can I Include In My British Airways Accident Claim?

When it comes to compensation for injuries to plane passengers, the payout you will receive is split into two categories. The first thing you will be compensated for is your actual injury. This will be determined based on two things. Firstly, the severity of your injury will be taken into account – i.e. how much pain and discomfort you are in. In addition to this, the amount of compensation you gain will also be decided based on how long it will take you to recover from your injuries – if you do indeed make a full recovery.

A lot of people do recognise that they will be compensated for the suffering they have experienced; yet what many individuals do not know is that they will also be compensated for special damages, i.e. out of pocket expenses. This relates to any expenses you have encountered as a result of your injuries. For example, if you are unable to drive and have had to seek an alternative method of transport, this counts as an out of pocket expense. This also could also include everything from hospital parking and childcare, to alternative accommodation and loss of earnings. It is important to keep a note of all the expenses you have occurred, as well as receipts and any other type of proof.

As you can see, there are two sides to the compensation that can be gained if you have experienced an injury. For a more accurate understanding of your potential payout, refer to the compensation calculator section below or give us a call.

Flight Accident Compensation Claim Calculator

One thing most personal injury victims want to know is how much compensation they are going to receive for the accident they have been involved in, and rightly so. You may have even used a personal injury claims calculator online. However, we do not recommend these tools because they are not very accurate. They are more of a estimation tool. This is because calculating a payout amount is very difficult, as all payouts are different and awarded on an individual basis. Therefore, the best thing to do is learn about the average airline compensation for death and injuries. We give you an insight into this in the table below. However, if you cannot find the injury you have sustained, the best thing to do is give us a call and we would be happy to explain further.

Edit
Injury sustained Extra notes about the accident Typical payout awarded
Severe Knee Injuries Leg fracture extending into the knee joint. £45,700 to £61,140
Minor injuries Injuries where there is a full recovery within one month. £600 to £1,200
Minor injuries Injuries where there is a full recovery within a week. A few hundred pounds to £600
Fractures of Cheekbones Serious fractures requiring surgery £8,940 to £13,840
Multiple Fractures of Facial Bones Some facial deformity of a permanent nature. £13,080 to £21,000
Severe Knee Injuries Less severe disability. £22,960 to £38,120
Injuries resulting in death With Extras From £12,980 can be over £300,000 Plus with extras. This can depend on things like salary and loss of earnings, Funeral costs and more ..
Minor injuries Injuries where there is a full recovery within three months. £1,200 to £2,150
Severe Knee Injuries Serious knee injury where there has been disruption of the joint. £61,140 to £84,360
Wrist Injuries Significant permanent disability, but where some useful movement remains. £21,480 to £34,340
Wrist Injuries Complete loss of function. £41,760 to £52,490
Shoulder Injuries Severe £16,830 to £42,110
Neck Injuries Severe
Associated with incomplete paraplegia or
resulting in permanent spastic quadriparesis.		 In the region of £130,060
Psychiatric Damage Severe £48,080 to £101,470
Psychiatric Damage Moderately Severe £16,720 to £48,080
Psychiatric Damage Moderate £5,130 to £16,720
Psychiatric Damage Less Severe £1,350 to £5,130

No Win No Fee Airline Accident And Injury Claims Against British Airways

No matter what type of accident you have been involved in, when it comes to making a compensation claim, finding a quality personal injury solicitor is of the utmost importance. You don’t have a second chance to make a compensation claim, and so it is imperative you choose a solicitor with care. Below, we reveal what you need from a solicitor…

  • Make sure the solicitor specialises in cases similar to yours – It is vital to ensure that the personal injury lawyer specialises in the right area of personal injury claims. For example, if you have been involved in a British Airways plane crash, there is no point going for a solicitor who spends most of his or her time working on product liability claims.
  • Read reviews that have been left by previous customers – This is the best way to get an honest insight into the service offered by the solicitor. If the individual has a negative reputation, this is something you should be able to pick up on quite easily, as you can be sure that unhappy customers will have taken to the Internet to express their dissatisfaction.
  • Go for a No Win, No Fee service – A No Win, No Fee solicitor will only charge you legal fees if their service has been successful, i.e. if they have managed to secure compensation for you. This is the best route to go down for a number of reasons. Not only can you protect yourself financially, but also you are likely to experience a better service because the payment the solicitor receives is performance related.
  • Ensure the solicitor is experienced – You cannot afford to take a risk when it comes to personal injury compensation, which is why it is advisable to go for someone that has a considerable amount of experience. You can be confident that they have handled many cases before.
  • Look for someone who is easy to communicate – There is nothing more frustrating than facing a battle every time you need to get in touch with your solicitor. Make sure they offer their contact details, including their telephone number and email address, and that they are easy to communicate with.

Why Make A Flight Accident Or Injury Claim With Our Team?

In order to secure compensation for any incident that happened on a BA plane that caused a injury that was not your fault, you are going to need a quality solicitor on your side who can fight your corner for you. When you choose Legal Expert, you will be left in no doubt that this is the case. In this section, we will reveal all of the reasons why you should choose our service…

So, why should you choose Legal Expert if you want to secure compensation for a British Airways injury claim?

  • We care – One of the main qualities that make us stand out from other law firms is the fact that we care. We recognise that you are already going through a difficult period as it is, and we definitely do not want to add to this. We want to take a weight off your shoulders, and this is why it is always our aim to secure compensation in the quickest and easiest manner. Sometimes we are able to do this over the phone.
  • No Win, No Fee – All of our personal injury claims are on a No Win No Fee claims service. This means that you do not need to pay any legal fees if for some reason we do not manage to secure British Airways compensation for you. This guarantees that you do not end up in the dreaded position of spending heaps of money only to then miss out on compensation too.
  • Experience – We have worked on thousands of different types of personal injury claims. Moreover, we have done so successfully, as you will see by our customers’ comments.

Contact Us Today

Are you ready to make a claim? If so, all you need to do is give us a call. You will be connected to one of our polite and professionals who will be more than happy to assist you in any manner they can. They will answer all of your queries. Moreover, if they think that your case is strong enough, they will then match you to one of specialist solicitors who will handle everything for you. The number you need is 0800 073 8804. However, there are other ways to get in touch too. This includes sending us an email, using the live chat feature, as well as entering your details and we will call you back.

Additional Resources

Was your flight subject to delay? – See our FAQ here

More on flight accident compensation claims – A guide on general flight accidents

More information on flights and delays – A further informative guide.