Airline Accident Lawyers
Over the years Vancouver has become a popular tourist destination and Vancouver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Canada with significant international travel coming and going. On top of this there is domestic travel coming from all over Canada, and numerous smaller planes going from the mainland to the island and vice versa.
With a significant volume of flights coming and going, there are numerous ways passengers can get injured on a flight, whether it be mechanical failure, staff negligence, turbulence, or injuries caused by falling baggage, spilled beverages, or any other number of ways.
Domestic Airline Injury
If you are injured in an airplane flying domestically with one of the larger carriers, or in a smaller personally owned plane, and that injury is due to the negligence of an airline, their employees, or the pilot, you can sue for your injury and losses.
Keep in mind that there are certain things that can cause injury which are outside of a pilot’s or airline’s control. There needs to be negligence on part of someone else in order to have a successful claim for injuries and other losses against a domestic airline/airplane.
International Airline Injury
The law with respect to passengers injured in international flights is complex and unlike domestic flights, injuries on international flights are governed by treaties called the Montreal and Warsaw Conventions.
Unlike domestic flights, there is no need to prove negligence of the airline if you’re injured on an international flight. Just the fact you were injured entitles you to compensation, up to an amount specified in the Montreal and Warsaw Conventions. However, only physical injuries are compensable under the Conventions. Emotional or psychological injuries are not compensable.
The lawyers at Taylor & Blair LLP can help you if you were injured on an international or domestic flight.
Contact us right away as there are time limits that apply to your claim.
What Compensation Is Available For Airline Accident Claims?
Because the facts and circumstances surrounding each case are different, each case is unique and requires careful handling and expert examination. As some of the most experienced personal injury lawyers in Vancouver, we have over 30 years of experience handling all kinds of injuries ranging from minor whiplash cases to serious brain injuries. What each case is worth and what compensation you’re entitled to depends on the specific facts of the case. However, generally speaking in personal injury claims you can seek compensation (also called damages) for:
- Pain and suffering (or non-pecuniary damages)
- Past loss of Income
- Future loss of income
- Loss of capacity to earn income
- Loss of homemaking capacity
- Cost of future care
- Out of pocket medical expenses (or special damages)
- In-trust claims