Roderick C. Lopez | November 26, 2024 | Personal Injury
Most people are more worried about accidents that occur in an airplane rather than in an airport. Nevertheless, although plane crashes make headlines, airport injuries are actually more common (although less fatal). If you suffered an injury at Laredo International Airport (LRD), it’s quite possible that you qualify for personal injury compensation.
Common Airport Accidents
Below is a list of some of the most common injuries that occur at airports:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Shuttle and cart accidents
- Luggage cart and trolley accidents
- Security screening injuries
- Boarding bridge injuries (boarding bridges can be dangerous if they shift or if gaps appear)
- Food court or retail shop injuries
- Pedestrian accidents in parking lots
- Exposure to hazardous materials (exhaust fumes, chemicals, etc.)
This is a small sample of the different types of injuries that occur in airports every year.
Airport Ownership
Laredo International Airport is a publicly owned airport serving Laredo, Texas and surrounding areas. The City of Laredo actually owns and operates the airport. In other words, it is a government entity. Nevertheless, it partners with the private company Avports for day-to-day management duties.
The Texas Tort Claims Act
The Texas Tort Claims Act is a statute that restricts anyone’s right to sue the government or any of its subdivisions. Since taxpayers fund the government, when you sue the government, you’re suing every Laredo taxpayer, potentially including yourself. Since the City of Laredo owns the Laredo International Airport, a lawsuit against the City of Laredo is subject to the Texas Tort Claims Act. To meet the requirements of the Act, you will need to:
- File a notice of claim with the defendant, in this case, the City of Laredo. You must file this notice within six months of the date of the injury. This is significantly shorter than the general statute of limitations to file a lawsuit, which is typically two years after the date of your injury. Both of these deadlines apply to your claim.
- Limit your claim of damages to statutory limits. These limits change periodically.
- Be cautious of immunities. Laredo might enjoy certain immunities from liability, which may or may not affect your claim.
However, the City of Laredo might not be the appropriate defendant in our case. If a private party is at fault, the Texas Tort Claims Act does not apply to your claim against them.
Alternative Defendants
Depending on the facts of your case, you might sue one or more private entities, such as:
- Various private contractors: The Aviation Facilities Co. (AFCO), for example, manages certain airport facilities and might bear liability in case of a personal injury. Avports specializes in airport operations and management.
- Airlines: The airline could be responsible if your injury occurred during boarding, deplaning, or during any other process that an airline operates.
- Airport concessionaires and retailers: An airport restaurant might bear liability if, for example, you were the victim of food poisoning at their establishment. A retailer might bear liability for a defective product that injured you.
- Security companies: If your injury arose from inadequate security measures, you might sue the airport’s contracted security firm.
- Equipment manufacturers: Equipment manufacturers can bear liability if your injuries arise from malfunctioning equipment such as escalators or elevators.
Selecting the appropriate defendant is where an experienced Laredo personal injury lawyer really comes in handy.
Contact the Laredo Personal Injury Attorneys at Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers. Call Us at (956) 529-7336
If your airport accident was serious, the defendant (or, more likely, their insurance company) might owe you a large amount of compensation. You can be certain, however, that they will resist paying you the full value of your claim, contact our Laredo personal injury lawyers at Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review today.
We are located in Laredo, TX, proudly serving Webb County and surrounding areas. We are located in Laredo, Texas.
Roderick C. Lopez Personal Injury Lawyers
6557 Metro Court, Suite 1 Laredo, TX 78041
(956) 529-7336
