The news has recently been covering severe turbulence on a flight from London to Singapore—turbulence that lead to one fatality and at least 30 serious injuries. The incident has shed light on a danger of flying that many passengers don’t consider.
If you’re injured at the Miami airport or any airport or on any airplane in Colorado or South Florida, reach out to Flaxman Law Group for a free consultation with an injury lawyer. Let’s talk about any compensation you may be able to claim to cover your medical bills and other injury-related expenses.
What is Turbulence?
Turbulence happens when a plane encounters drafts of wind in a cloud. In larger clouds, especially, the air movements can become chaotic, leading a whole plane to shake or even drop in height.
In some cases, turbulence happens when a plane encounters a jet stream, which is an invisible current of air. This is even harder to spot and avoid.
Whenever you fly, your plane can encounter turbulence, and your risks are higher when you go on long flights. In most cases, turbulence is mild and temporary, but when it becomes moderate to severe it can cause serious injuries.
What Are the Risks?
Turbulence can happen suddenly, so passengers may be walking around or sitting with their seatbelts unfastened. They can be thrown around the cabin. In addition, many items in the cabin can become airborne during severe turbulence, crashing into passengers. These situations can lead to a range of injuries, including:
- Panic and even heart problems due to fear and stress
- Burns caused by spills of coffee and other hot liquids
- Back injuries
- Fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Concussions and head injuries
- Hemorrhaging in the abdomen or head, which can happen with a fall or sudden impact
When you travel, you can’t always prevent turbulence, but you can reduce your risk of injury. Here’s how:
- Follow the guidelines for cabin baggage and always keep your luggage and personal items secured during a flight.
- Stay in your seat and keep your seatbelt buckled unless you need to walk around the cabin or use the washroom.
- If turbulence happens, stay calm and follow the crew’s instructions.
Do I Have a Claim?
Airlines are “common carriers,” which means that under the law they have a duty of care to passengers. In fact, they are expected to take all reasonable precautions to keep passengers safe. When they don’t and you’re injured, you may have a claim. For example, you may have a claim if the crew and pilots should have been able to predict turbulence but failed to warn passengers. You may also have a claim if the crew gave the wrong instructions during turbulence.
In these cases, it’s extremely challenging to tell whether negligence occurred. A thorough investigation may be needed, which is why we invite you to contact us at 866-352-9626 to schedule a consultation with a Miami injury lawyer. Flaxman Law Group is a boutique law firm with a family focus and a father-son attorney team. We tell you like it is and work tirelessly to help you seek the compensation you may be entitled to.