Belfast International Airport Accident Claims Guide- How To Claim Compensation For A Personal Injury In Belfast International Airport?

By Joanne Jeffries. Last Updated 21st September 2021. Welcome to this guide on Belfast International airport accident claims.

Belfast International airport accident claims guide

Belfast International airport accident claims guide

A holiday to Northern Ireland could be a great way to create memories with loved ones. There are amazing cafes, quirky bars, historical references, and tourist’s attractions all of which are extremely accessible. Some holidaymakers might fly to airports such as Belfast International due to its travel connections. Whilst using Belfast airport facilities, one of the last things you might expect is to be injured or harmed.

Unfortunately, there are some scenarios where a third party at Belfast International airport could breach their duty of care towards you. If this occurs, their negligence could cause an accident which includes a slip or trip, electrocution, or food poisoning.

If you were injured due to the negligence of Belfast international airport, you might be wondering whether or not you could make a claim for compensation?

This guide outlines the various ways in which our panel of solicitors covering Ireland could be of service more especially as a claim’s process can appear both daunting and complex. As such, if at any point whilst reading this online guide you have additional questions, please speak with an adviser from our team who is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and who can offer free legal advice. If you were involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, please contact a member of our team today to start no win no fee Belfast International airport accident claims.

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A Guide To Claims For Accident At Belfast International Airport

A holiday to Ireland is a great place for a romantic getaway with your partner, or a great place to visit with friends. Whilst travelling to Ireland for a vacation, one of the last things you might expect is to be injured or fall ill. Unfortunately, there are some circumstances where the negligence of a third party could cause an incident where injury or damage could be caused. For example, if the Belfast International airport breached its duty of care towards you, their negligence could be grounds for filing a personal injury claim is as a consequence you are harmed or injured.

This online guide aims to outline and discuss the different ways a third party like Belfast International Airport could be in breach of their duty of care, and discusses the different ways an accident at Belfast International Airport could happen, and what effects the incident could have on you.

To successfully discuss the Belfast International airport accident claims process in greater length, this online guide aims to answer the following questions:

  • What is a personal injury claim?
  • Am I eligible to make a claim against a negligent third party?
  • How are accidents at Belfast International airport caused?
  • Can I use a personal injury claims calculator?

Those who have been injured by the negligence of a third party who wish to make a claim, should be aware of personal injury claims time limits. In simple terms, these deadlines are the time of the frame in which those injured by a negligent party, must begin a personal injury claim.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health states that the time frame to begin a claim is 3 years. However, it is worth noting that you could have grounds to make a claim if you endured injuries that weren’t visible at the scene of the incident which includes conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety, or injuries/illnesses that were not diagnosed at the time of the incident are prime examples.

If you are unsure of the time limit associated with your case, you should speak to a solicitor at Accident Claims UK as soon as possible so they can determine that you still have time to file an accident at Belfast International claim against a negligent third party.

What Are Accidents In Belfast International Airport?

You might be wondering what might constitute accidents at Belfast International airport, and how they may be caused? Unfortunately, there are many different factors that could contribute to an airport-related incident, and in some scenarios, it could be caused by third-party negligence.

From a slip and trip to an accident on an airport ramp, this online guide aims to discuss the different ways a third party such as Belfast International airport could be in breach of their duty of care, and how this breach in the duty of care could cause an accident that leaves you injured or harmed. We also give guidance on making Belfast International airport accident claims.

UK Aviation Industry Health And Safety

Belfast International Airport opened in 1918 as is well known for its great connections to various parts of Ireland. As an airport, it saw 6,269,025 passengers between the years 2017 to 2018 and an estimated 58,152 aircraft movements in the same year.

According to statistics provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there was an injury rate of 594 injuries per 100,000 employees in the air transportation industry that spanned from 2009 to 2014. In addition to this, it was reported by Aviation that there have been 8 occurrences at or near Belfast International Airport that occurred from 1953 to 2019.

You can see the key accident/injury statistics for employees across all industries from 2019/20 below.

Belfast international airport accident claims statistics graph

Types Of Accident Which Could Happen In An Airport

There are many different ways an accident at an airport could occur, and in some cases, an accident could be caused by the negligence of a third party. In the moments where another party neglects their duty of care, it increases the risk of an accident happening.

Common causes of an accident might include the following:

  • Faulty machinery
  • Tripping hazards
  • Fall objects
  • Spillage

If you’re interested in making Belfast International airport accident claims for any accident the airport could be help liable for, please call our team.

Slipping And Falling Accidents On Airport Grounds

A slip and trip-related accident is recognised by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as being caused by one of three common factors which includes the following:

  • Walkways
  • Housekeeping
  • Design and maintenance

These factors could affect both holidaymakers visiting the premises and employees working in the airport. It is the airport’s duty to prevent these accidents from happening. With this said,  a common cause of a slip and trip might include the following:

  • Spillage
  • Poor lighting
  • Unsuitable floor coverings
  • Exposed wires

For example, the HSE outlined that 581,000 employees in the air industry were involved in non-fatal accidents between the years 2017 and 2018. The HSE also acknowledged that 29% of the statistics were in relation to slip and trip incidents.

Airport Luggage Carousel Accidents

At an airport, one of the busiest areas is the luggage carousel. This is because there is a high volume of people in close proximity to one another, each attempting to reclaim their personal belongings. The baggage area can often put you in a stressful situation, but one of the last things you might expect whilst collecting your luggage, is to be injured or harmed.

Belfast International Airport facilities, like the carousel, should be regularly checked to ensure the equipment is in good working order and hazards have been identified and fixed or cordoned off. This would ensure exposed wires or technical faults, have been fixed. However, if airports such as Belfast international airport, are negligent in their duty of care, it could cause an accident at the airport luggage carousel.

Accidents In An Airport Lift Or On An Escalator

There are various types of equipment found in airports which includes escalators, lifts, and travelators which were introduced to alleviate the stress associated with travelling. They also help make it easier to move around with heavy luggage, and can sometimes help reduce overcrowding. Whilst using this equipment, your safety and well-being are directly in the airport’s hands, and if you were to be injured due to their error, then you could have grounds to make Belfast International airport accident claims.

Common types of accidents might include the following:

  • Slip and trip accident on an escalator
  • Accident airport ramp malfunction
  • Exposed wires causing a fall or electrocution

Airport Bus, Shuttle Or Transport Accidents

Both the inside and outside of an airport are busy places with various vehicles in motion at all time as well as people moving independently. From shuttle buses, refuel trucks and luggage vehicles, the tarmac of an airport is often a hectic environment. The employees who operate these vehicles are well trained and experienced in their job. However, there are some scenarios where the negligence of a third party could cause an accident.

If you were involved in a Belfast International airport bus crash, you might be wondering if you have grounds to make a claim? If a third parties negligence is the direct cause of an accident, those involved in the incident could have grounds to make a claim for compensation. To make a claim of this nature, you would be required to provide evidence. Citizen’s Advice recommends that those involved in an accident should do the following:

  • Take photographs
  • Swap details with those who witnessed the incident
  • Seek medical attention

If you were involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault and wish to make a claim, please contact a member of our team today.

Restaurant, Cafe Or Shop Accidents And Incidents

The Belfast International Airport dining facilities are required by law to uphold the same standards in food hygiene as any other establishment. The Food Standard Agency (FA) states that all food, whether it is pre-packaged, unpackaged, or freshly prepared, should be labelled accordingly. The FA also highlights that those who sell food should be aware of the most common food allergens. Examples of these allergens include;

  • Dairy products
  • Wheat
  • Peanuts
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Soybeans

Belfast International Airport bars, restaurants, cafes, and additional stores that sell food, need to be aware of and label these items accordingly. This also applies to Belfast International Airport duty-free shops. A failure to comply with the FA’s request could cause a holidaymaker to have a serious or fatal allergic reaction and would entitle them to file Belfast International airport accident claims for compensation.

Accidents And Injuries Incurred When Working At The Airport

As an employer at an airport, one of the major requirements is to ensure the safety and well-being of customers. They are also responsible for the health and safety of employees who are then able to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities. Employees at airports, such as Belfast international airport, must be provided with a safe and hazard-free working environment. Unfortunately, the HSE identified that there are 1.6 million workers who are currently suffering from a work-related injury or illness.

To prevent an accident in the workplace from occurring, an employer should uphold their obligation to health and safety regulations. To do so, they are obliged to perform risk assessments, routine inspections, uphold a high standard of hygiene, and provide training where appropriate.

In doing so, an employer could highlight hazardous causes ahead of time, and reduce the risk of accidents happening. In the event an employer like Belfast International airport, being negligent in their duty of care, it may result in a work-related injury. Should this be the case, you could have grounds to make a claim for compensation by filing a personal injury claim.

For more information relating to accident at work claims, read our guide.

Manual Handling Accidents Injuring Baggage Handlers

An airport like Belfast international has multiple job roles and each plays an integral part in the airport’s upkeep, timing, and customer satisfaction. One of these jobs could include a baggage handler with their primary role being to move luggage from A to B. Due to the heavy lifting involved, manual handling injuries are often caused when an employer neglects their duty of care which must include correct training.

The HSE previously identified that manual handling of cargo and baggage onto an aircraft, is a job position where little thought has gone into the health implications and risks involved. To prevent an accident from happening in the workplace, and an employer like Belfast International airport, should abide by their ethical obligation which is to respect workplace safety by performing risk assessments, routine inspections, housing keeping, and providing the correct level of training where applicable. A failure to do so could cause an accident or injury. The employer could, as a consequence be held liable.

The HSE states that there are many injuries a baggage handler could sustain which includes the following:

  • Fractures
  • Repetitive strain
  • Muscular disorders
  • Bruises
  • Skeletal injuries/disorders

We could help with Belfast International airport accident claims for manual handling injuries.

Calculating Compensation Claims Against Belfast International Airport – Updated September 2021

In some cases, anyone with a valid claim might use a personal injury claims calculator to determine an estimated compensation amount. However, the table below outlines a variety of different injuries, the severity of an injury, and compensation awarded which are based on claims made in England and Wales. As such, it is worth noting that your potential claim in Ireland may differ to the amounts provided which are a guideline only.

The reason being that every claim for compensation is inherently different and the compensation that could be awarded will reflect these unique conditions.

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Injury Injury Severity Compensation Amount Injury Description
Amputation One Arm Not less than £128,710 Those who lose one arm are often expected symptoms such as phantom pains, stress, discomfort, and depression.
Amputation Both Arms £225,960 to £281,520 Those who lose both arms will lose all ability to be fully independent. As a result, they might require around the clock care and experience pain and difficulty.
PTSD Minor £56,180 to £94,470 Minor levels of PTSD are often expected to make a fully recovery with a one to two year time frame.
PTSD Severe £56,180 to £94,470 Those who experience severe levels of PTSD are often expected to be depressed, anxious, and have limit career potential.
Food Poisoning Serious £8,950 to £18,020 A serious case of food poisoning has the ability to case discomfort, irritant, nausea, and fatigue.
Back Injury Minor £7,410 to £11,730 A minor back injury could present some complications such as pain, discomfort and strain.
Back Injury Severe £85,470 to £151,070 A severe back injury has the ability to cause life-altering implications, leaving the affected individual unable to walk and look after themselves.
Neck Injury Minor £4,080 to £7,410 A minor neck injury could cause some discomfort, limited mobility, and irritants, but is often expected to make a full recovery.
Neck Injury Severe In the region of £139,210 A major neck injury is often expected to cause limited to no mobility, back pain, neck pain, and limitations.

Other Damages Victims Of Airport Accidents May Claim

Some people may think that a claims process is specifically for those who have endured psychical injuries, which isn’t always the case. A claim for compensation could be made for a variety of injuries both physical and psychological. Personal injury compensation is divided into general damages and special damages.

Compensation awarded would take into account financial loss, as it has been designed to ensure that a claimant is not financially worse off following an accident. To illustrate a better understanding of these different factors, please see below:

  • General Damages – general damages refers to compensation awarded for physical injuries caused by an accident. For example, if you were to experience brain damage after an accident at Belfast International airport caused by negligence, you could potentially be entitled to claim compensation
  • Care Related Costs – an accident could render you unable to look after yourself and perform day to day tasks. If that is the case and you require the assistance, the cost of care could be taken into consideration when making a claim
  • Medical Expenses –  you might need medical attention such as surgery, therapy, or medication to aid the pain and suffering which is not covered by the NHS. If you personally funded any of these procedures, the cost could be taken into consideration
  • Psychological Damages – anyone involved in a Belfast international airport crash caused by the negligence of a third party, might experience psychological trauma, such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression and this could be included in a claim for compensation
  • Travel Expenses – if you were involved in an accident that prevents you from driving your car, you might use public transport to attend appointments and get to work. If that is the case, travel expenses such as train tickets, bus tickets, or taxis, could be factored into your claim for compensation. To make a claim of this nature, receipts, tickets, and documentation should be kept and provided to support your expenditure

If you have been affected by the negligence of a third party that hasn’t been described above, you could still have grounds to make a claim. To discuss any damages you may have experienced, and to determine whether or not you could make a claim, please speak with a member of our team.

No Win No Fee Damages Claims Against Belfast Airport

A No Win No Fee claim is an arrangement offered to those with a valid claim by a personal injury solicitor from our panel. This agreement may also be referred to as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), and in simple terms, it is a mutual contract between the solicitor and the claimant.

If a solicitor from our panel offers to handle a claim under a No Win No Fee agreement, it minimises the threat to the claimant’s finances and eliminates any upfront fees. However, if the claim has a successful outcome, then the claimant would be required to pay a fee for the services that have been provided. This fee is taken from the final settlement that has been awarded and is referred to as a ‘success fee’. For more information about No Win No Fee agreements, please speak to a member of our team today.

Why Choose Our Accident Claims Team?

With over 30 years of experience, our panel of solicitors are well versed in personal injury law, and could assist those injured by the negligence of a third party. Not only could they provide support, but they could provide legal guidance, and assist you throughout the claims process. If you were injured by a negligent third party and wish to make a claim, why not contact a member of our team today.

Start Your Claim

If you were injured due to the negligence of another person, you might be wondering whether or not you could make a claim for compensation? If a third party is at fault and has caused you to be injured or fall ill, you could have grounds to make a personal injury claim. If that is the case, then please speak with a member of our team to discover how our panel of solicitors covering Ireland could potentially assist you. Although we might not be positioned in your local area, our panel of solicitors could cover the area and handle your potential claim.

If you wish to speak with an adviser, the number to call is 0800 073 8801. They can offer you free legal advice of no obligation, and they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Alternatively, you could enquire online throughout the online form, and a member of our team will be in touch.

Would I be able to make Belfast International airport accident claims if a loved one suffered a fatal injury?

Unfortunately, in some cases, accidents could cause fatal injuries. If there is third party negligence involved in your loved one’s fatal accident or wrongful death, we could help you make a claim for compensation. You would need to be able to prove that wrongdoing on behalf of a responsible party had led to their fatal accident your loved one was involved in. We understand that going through all the details of your loved one’s death could be traumatic. This is why we handle such claims with tact and sensitivity. If you would like to make such a claim, you could be eligible for compensation to help with the cost of your loved one’s funeral. You could also cover in some cases, receive compensation for your bereavement, and loss of financial support if you are a dependent.

Might I be able to make Belfast International airport accident claims if my child is injured?

Seeing your child suffer injury or illness due to a third party’s negligence could be somewhat traumatic for you. If you would like to make a compensation claim on behalf of your child for their injuries or illness, we would be happy to help you. You would need to become your child’s litigation friend in order to make vital decisions about their claim. This is because a child is not thought to be able to make a claim on their own because they lack the mental capacity to do so. If you would prefer to wait until your child turns 18, and allow them to make their own claim, you could do this. However, it could be more complicated in terms of evidence gathering as time progresses. Making the decision on whether to claim now or whether to wait could be quite complicated. We would be happy to furnish you with all the information that you need to be able to make an informed decision.

Essential References

We hope that this online guide has successfully outlined the different ways an accident at Belfast International Airport could be caused.  In relation to this online guide, we have provided some links to sources that could be of use to those seeking advice and support. These links include internal references to our own website and external sources that could be of use.

Airport Safety Resources

Workplace Accident – What are my legal rights after an accident?

Wet Floor Accident – Could I make a claim after slipping on a wet floor?

Restaurant Injury Claim – Can I claim after becoming injured or ill at a restaurant? 

Citizen’s Advice – Northern Ireland 

Thank you for reading this Belfast International airport accident claims guide.