The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in South Florida has been listed as the 21st busiest airport in the country and is one of the world’s 50th biggest airports. Located at 100 Terminal Drive in Broward County, Florida, the airport helps millions of people get to their destinations every day. In December of 2019 alone, the airport saw a total traffic number of 3,520,779 people, which was up 6.8% from previous months. Total traffic in 2019 was 36,747,622, up 2.2% from 2018. The top airline carriers who have a presence and regularly use this airport include JetBlue, Southwest, Delta, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, and Spirit.
While these are certainly great numbers for the prosperity of the airport and its capabilities of supporting so many travelers, it also means that accidents happen on a daily basis. Regardless of how you suffered injuries in airport property, as an accident victim you deserve to seek compensation so that you can reclaim your life and receive damages that cover medical bills and other expenses and damages incurred as a result.
In the article, we’ll take a look at whether a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer is required to file a claim, common ways in which people experience injuries and common causes of these injuries, who is liable in airport accident cases, and damages you may be eligible to receive when filing an accident claim against the airport.
Do You Need A Lawyer When Filing A Personal Injury Claim With The Fort Lauderdale Airport?
The Fort-Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport is one of the major intercontinental gateways that help people get from one location to another anywhere in the world. And, like other major airports throughout the nation, the Fort Lauderdale airport is owned and operated by the government of the city of Fort Lauderdale and the Broward County Aviation Department. Because filing an accident claim with this airport is not as simple as simply submitting information to an insurance company, hiring an experienced personal injury law firm is strongly advised in personal injury cases that occur here.
There are several components that go into a successful lawsuit against a major airport like this one, despite whether you’re filing a suit against the airport itself or a person or entity that works within the airport. One of these components is simply determining who injury victims should file their claim against.
Additionally, because this airport is owned by the government and is a public entity, it may protected against many types of lawsuits and claims. There are exceptions to this protection, including the fact that the state of Florida has chosen to waive its right to sovereign immunity when it comes to personal injury cases in the airport. While this takes the burden off of victims in terms of their actual ability to seek damages, it doesn’t mean the process is an easy one.
A few requirements and potential issues that may arise when filing a claim include:
- You must be able to prove that a Florida court would find a private party responsible for the same accident scenario that occurred in the airport.
- You cannot sue or file a claim against an employee who works in the airport authority department unless the person intentionally caused the injury.
- The cap for damages in the state of Florida is $200,000 unless more than one party is represented as a claimant in the lawsuit. In the case, damages are capped at $300,000.
- Punitive damages are rarely included in personal injury cases filed against government entities like the FLL airport.
While not required by law, with all of the stipulations and details that go into an airport claim, hiring a personal injury or accident attorney is always advised in this type of case.
Injuries And Accidents That Can Happen At The Fort Lauderdale Airport
There are several different ways in which accidents can happen in a busy airport such as the Fort Lauderdale International Airport. The sheer number of people alone in the airport at any given time increases the probability of accidents. A few examples of accident scenarios in an airport include:
- Slick or wet floors that are not properly cleaned up or show warning signs surrounding the area
- Torn or broken areas on walkways
- Unmaintained parking lots
- Accidents that occur during the drop-off and pick-up process
- Uneven walking surfaces
- Accidents that occur on escalators and moving walkways
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Car accidents that occur on airport property as a result of poor driving conditions
- Poor lighting conditions
- Aviation accidents that occur on airport property
Examples of injuries that can happen as a result of these on-site accidents include:
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Sprains and strains
- Fractures
- Spinal injuries
- Cuts and bruises
- Amputation
- Wrongful death
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Who Is Liable For Accidents At The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport?
Many personal injury accidents make it fairly easy to determine who the at-fault party was. For example, in a car accident, a negligent driver would likely be held responsible for the accident. However, due to the nature of how airports are structured and run, determining liability in these cases is not always an easy process.
In airports as large as the Fort Lauderdale one, there are several connections and contracts with public and private entities and businesses that work within the airport to provide services. For example, if you were injured in an airport restaurant, it may be the restaurant and its operators who are responsible rather than the airport itself. Or, if you experienced injuries during transportation, the transportation company may be held responsible in addition to the airport.
An experienced Florida personal injury or accident lawyer can help you determine what or who was at fault for your injuries and who or what entity you need to file a claim with. It’s important to first get a free case review to see if the attorney can assist you in your specific situation.
Damages You Can Recover For Injuries Incurred At The Fort Lauderdale Airport
There are a number of different kinds of damages that you can recover when suing or filing a claim against the Orlando International Airport or any entity or person who works there. These damages include both economic and non-economic damages. Some of the damages you may win in your settlement include:
- Compensation for past and future medical expenses such as ambulance and emergency services, stays in the hospital and services
- Compensation to cover aftercare and any physical therapy or other treatment needed
- Compensation for long-term medical care
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for mental and emotional anguish
- Lost wages due to injury or disability
- Loss of consortium
- Damages in instances when wrongful death occurred
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How Florin|Roebig Can Help With Your Fort Lauderdale Airport Personal Injury Case
If you’ve experienced serious injuries as a result of an accident in the Fort Lauderdale airport, an expert Miami-Dade or other local attorney can provide you with the knowledge and support needed to form a viable case against the airport. The attorneys at Florin|Roebig have extensive experience working with these types of cases and can help ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries. Give us a call today for a confidential and free case evaluation.
