Charleston Airport Work Injury Attorneys

Experienced South Carolina Injury Lawyers Fight to Protect Airport Workers Who Are Injured On the Job

Over 500,000 people work in the airline industry, including thousands who work at airports. They include not only pilots and flight attendants but also nearly 27,000 airport utility workers, aircraft mechanics, custodial staff, retail workers, and others. 

Airport-related work can be challenging. Many workers face the risk of injury every day on the job. When injuries occur at work, an injured worker needs support to recover from their injuries and get back on their feet. 

If you’ve been injured while working in an airport, talk to the experienced South Carolina airport work injury lawyers at the Steinberg Law Firm today. 

Common Airport Work Injuries 

Airport ground crews and other workers face several potential injury risks. Some injuries are more common than others. The most common types of airport workplace injuries include the following:

• Slips, trips, and falls. In one study of 523 work-related accidents among airport ground crew, 40.3 percent of all reported injuries occurred when a worker slipped, tripped, or fell.
• Lifting and carrying accidents. Approximately 20 percent of injuries included in the study came from accidents while lifting or carrying objects. 
• Transport accidents. Workers who were struck by vehicles either fell from a vehicle or were involved in a vehicle collision, which accounted for 12.8 percent of injuries in the study.
• Physical and chemical exposures. Exposure to extreme temperatures, chemicals, machinery, and other dangers caused 7.5 percent of recorded injuries. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, airport workers face a higher risk of injuries than workers across all private industries 一 6.7 injuries per 100 full-time workers in airports versus 2.9 injuries per 100 workers across all industries. Injury rates were lowest among workers who handled freight transportation and highest among those who worked with passengers. 

Sources of Compensation for Injured Airport Workers

In South Carolina, nearly all airport employees can access workers’ compensation coverage if they suffer a job-related injury at work. Workers’ compensation covers certain losses related to the work injury, such as medical bills. Workers who meet certain requirements may also receive compensation for part of their usual wages as they take time to recover from their injuries. 

Workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system. An injured worker does not need to prove any negligence to receive coverage. There are limits to workers’ compensation, however. For instance, workers’ compensation benefits apply only to employees. If you are an independent contractor, you cannot typically access workers’ compensation benefits. 

Determining which workers are classified properly as independent contractors can pose another challenge. A lawyer can help you determine whether you are classified as a contractor correctly 一 or if you should be considered an employee. 

Some airport work injuries result from negligence by third parties. A few illustrations of such cases include:

• An airport worker is struck by an Uber driver in the passenger loading zone. 
• An airport worker is injured when an improperly-maintained forklift fails, causing it to tip over.
• An airport worker suffers injuries from a hidden defect in a tool the worker is using, which causes the tool to overheat and inflict severe burns. 

The amount of workers’ compensation an airport employee can receive will vary. An attorney can help you understand exactly how the rules apply in your case and what they mean for your compensation. 

Talk to an Experienced Airport Work Injury Attorney Today

After an injury, you may have many questions. Whether or not you want to file a lawsuit, speaking to an attorney can benefit you. A lawyer can:

• Answer your questions and give you information you understand.
• Gather evidence to better understand your legal options. 
• Handle insurance and workers’ compensation paperwork and demands so that you can focus on rest and healing.
• Negotiate on your behalf so you receive the full, fair compensation you need for your existing bills and any future needs. 

If you were injured while working at an airport, you don’t have to deal with the aftermath alone. Talk to the experienced airport work injury lawyers at the Steinberg Law Firm today. We’ll help you understand your options and pursue the compensation you need. To learn more, contact us to schedule a free, confidential consultation.