Bristol Airport accident claims
By Olivia Farmer. Last updated 21st September 2021. Welcome to our Bristol Airport accident claims guide. A lot of people may assume that when we talk about airport accidents we are talking about airport plane crashes but this is not the full picture as this guide will go on to discuss. The guide is not about in-flight accidents, more about accidents that can happen in and around the airport.
We are set to discuss how employees and passengers at Bristol airport could possibly suffer avoidable injuries if health and safety is not always the driving force. Injuries could vary in severity and impact a person’s life in many different ways. If you have been injured by a Bristol Airport accident that was not your fault, then it may be possible for you to make a claim for compensation.
We have put together this guide for people who may have been in an accident at Bristol Airport that was not their fault, and who are considering making a claim. A personal injury solicitor from our panel could help you make a claim to compensate you for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of your injuries.
Read on for more information on the process of claiming, for examples of accidents that could possibly occur, and to view a personal injury claims calculator that may be useful in giving you an idea of how much certain injuries are awarded. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us today on 0800 073 8801, or alternatively, you can arrange a time for us to call you back of your choosing by filling out this handy online contact form.
In the meantime, please continue reading our guide on how to make Bristol Airport accident claims.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Claims For An Accident At Bristol Airport
- What Are Accidents At Bristol Airport?
- Airport And Aircraft Safety In The UK
- Common Accidents Which Could Happen In An Airport
- Airport Trip / Fall Accidents
- Airport Baggage Cart Crashes And Baggage Accidents
- Airport Lift / Escalator / Stair Accidents
- Airport Passenger Transit System Accidents
- Restaurant And Shop Accidents At Bristol Airport
- Airport Employee Accidents At Work
- Baggage Handler Crashes And Manual Handling Accidents
- Calculating Compensation Claims For Accidents At An Airport
- What Special Damages Could Be Claimed For?
- No Win No Fee Claims For Accidents At Bristol Airport
- Why Choose Our Travel Accidents Claims Team?
- Start Your Claim
- Essential References
A Guide To Claims For An Accident At Bristol Airport
Welcome to our Bristol Airport accident claims guide. In 2019, a total of 526,946 passengers and 4,636 flights passed through Bristol airport’s single terminal. Despite its unassuming size, this airport offers a wide range of facilities and services, with a total of 11 shops and convenience stores, and 11 restaurants and cafés.
This guide has been designed to look at what accidents could possible happen at an airport and what accidents that happen at an airport could qualify for compensation. These can include slips, trips or falls, as well as food poising or an allergic reaction. In this article, we will explore the different ways a person might become ill or injured in an airport accident, as well as discuss the process of claiming, and what you might be able to claim for.
If you are considering making a claim for an accident at Bristol Airport or a Bristol Airport accident, although not compulsory we recommend that you seek legal assistance from a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible, so as to avoid exceeding the personal injury claims time limit that is applied to most cases. This time limit is commonly set at three years, but it can vary from claim to claim. Contact us today for free, no-obligation legal advice on making a personal injury claim.
What Are Accidents At Bristol Airport?
Before we look at Bristol Airport accident claims, let’s first get an understanding of what accidents might look like and how they could come to happen. A Bristol Airport accident could be essentially an unexpected incident that happens on the grounds of Bristol airport, it could cause illness or injury to the people involved. This can include accidents that happen inside the airport itself, as well as those that happen in the airport grounds.
Not nearly all accidents that happen will allow the injured party to make a compensation claim in order to be able to claim for an injury caused by an accident at Bristol Airport, there are certain criteria that need to be met. This includes:
- Proving that a third party owed you a duty of care either as a passenger or employee.
- Proving that the accident was caused by a breach of that duty of care.
- Proving that you were avoidably injured and it could have been prevented.
Airport And Aircraft Safety In The UK
In this section of our Bristol Airport accident claims guide, we’ll take a look at some statistics. The Department for Transport (DfT), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Aviation Safety Network (ASN) keep a close eye on airport and aircraft safety in the UK. Below we have provided some statistics that have been calculated by the different bodies.
Looking at the UK in general, the DfT published data in the AVI0401 data-set, showing that in 2018 alone, 52 casualties of all different severities were caused as a result of accidents involving UK registered aircraft, in UK airspace. These flights included commercial transport as well as other general aviation.
According to the Aviation Safety Network’s safety database there has been 6 incidents concerning aircraft safety. The most recent incident on their database to do with Bristol Airport was in 2019, with a passenger aircraft carrying 165 passengers. There were no casualties, and it was due to a minor issue with the front wheel during pushback before take-off.
Accidents within the airport or while walking on the apron or ramp can involve passengers, but it can also involve airport staff. The HSE published figures on the most common accidents causing injuries to air transport staff. The most common at 39% was lifting and handling, with slip, trip and fall accidents the second most common at 24%. Other more common causes were:
- Being hit by an object at 13%
- Unspecified causes at 8%
- Being struck against at 6%
- A fall from a height at 5%
- Injured by a moving vehicle at 5%
For some examples of common accidents that happen in airports, please see the next section of our Bristol Airport accident claims guide.
Common Accidents Which Could Happen In An Airport
In the coming sections we will explore the most common types of airport accidents that could occur to passengers and staff. Not all accidents that occur will be the fault of a third party however if they are and it can be proven that if the correct procedures and policies were in place the accident causing avoidable injuries would not have happened then there might be a basis to make a compensation claim.
If an accident at Bristol airport was caused by the negligent actions of a third party, which caused you to become injured, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation, whether you were a passenger or an employee or even a contractor. See below for more examples, but If you cannot find an example of your situation here and feel like you might have grounds for a claim, contact us today, and we may be able to help you.
Airport Trip / Fall Accidents
One of the most common accidents that you may wish to make Bristol Airport accident claims for is are slip, trip and fall accidents. These can happen anywhere in an airport and could be caused by hazards that are left on the ground, damaged flooring, or spillages. Although a fall from standing height may not seem that severe, it can cause a wide range of issues and injuries depending on age, any pre-existing conditions etc. Depending on the circumstances a fall could also include falling down a stairwell, slipping on a wet floor, tripping over an exposed wire in a store, etc. all of which could lead to injuries of varying severity.
Airport Baggage Cart Crashes And Baggage Accidents
An airport baggage accident could involve the use of baggage carousels that were loaded too high by staff, causing the heavy items to fall on top of other passengers. If a carousel is in disrepair it is also possible for you to encounter injuries caused by protruding pieces you come into contact with while trying to retrieve your luggage.
It may also be possible for a person to be injured while using a baggage trolley that was not maintained correctly or had a defect. This could cause an accident if it tips over while moving or loading, which causes the baggage to fall on top of the owner or other people.
Airport Lift / Escalator / Stair Accidents
Another type of airport accident could possibly involve injuries caused through the use of elevators, escalators, travelators, and stairs, all of which are used to move around the airport. Some examples of accidents can include:
- Injuries caused by your clothes becoming trapped in moving parts of a damaged escalator or travelator.
- Becoming trapped in lift doors or getting trapped in a stalled lift that has malfunctioned.
- Tripping over a raised edge of an elevator that failed to line up correctly with the floor.
- You could fall down a stairwell because of a damaged or absent handrail or banister.
- You could be injured because the emergency stop button failed to stop an escalator in the event of an emergency.
Airport Passenger Transit System Accidents
As well as having possible accidents on apparatus that help you move around the airport on foot, it may also be possible for an accident at Bristol Airport to involve vehicles used for moving passengers and their luggage around. This can include shuttle buses that go to and from airport hotels, an airport passenger cart used to take people from one side of the terminal to another, as well as buses used to move some passengers between the plane and terminal for boarding and disembarking. Accidents could possibly happen if drivers of these vehicles lose concentration or are negligent in some way.
It is also possible for airport staff to be injured in an airport baggage cart crash that resulted in the vehicle over-turning, crashing into another airport vehicle or hitting those walking on the apron. This can also happen because of negligence but could also happen if staff in charge of operating these vehicles have not received the correct training before being expected to work with them.
Restaurant And Shop Accidents At Bristol Airport
As we have highlighted above, Bristol Airport has 22 different restaurants and shops for passengers and staff to make use of. Again even with such incidents as shopping and eating if health and safety procedures are not followed accidents causing injury or illness could potentially happen.
Restaurant Accidents
In a restaurant, there are different ways in which accidents could occur. There is the potential for hot drinks or food to be spilled on customers, a customer could slip on a wet floor that hasn’t been cleaned, or they could trip over hazards left lying on the floor, all of which could result in injury. It may also be possible for a person to become ill through food poisoning or an allergic reaction because the restaurant failed to observe expected food preparation standards or mishandled the food in some way. See here for further information on making a claim for an injury or illness in a restaurant.
Shop Accidents
Similar to restaurants, shops can contain trip and slip hazards that may result in an injury for those who fall afoul of them. These can include spillages on smooth flooring, exposed wiring that was not adequately secured and there may also be products left on the floor by staff or customers.
Airport Employee Accidents At Work
You may wish to make Bristol Airport accident claims for injuries sustained at work. Employees can be injured in accidents at airports just like passengers can, and in some cases, they may be more at risk when carrying out certain tasks. As we have highlighted above, there are some more obvious causes of accidents to those who work in air transport, which include lifting and handling, as well as slip and trip accidents.
An airport employer has a duty of care to ensure that employees are all appropriately trained and have the correct safety equipment to complete their job safely. Employers must also take measures to ensure that all equipment used to complete tasks have been regularly inspected and repaired or replaced where necessary. If they breach the duty of care they have to you as an employee then it may be possible for you to make a claim for any harm suffered.
Baggage Handler Crashes And Manual Handling Accidents
Those who work in airports as manual baggage handlers are at different levels of risks from those in other positions, related mainly to physical aspects of the activity. Although the job is a physical one, employers are still expected to take measures to reduce the risk as much as possible. Some common risks that are posed to baggage handlers can include:
- Injuries caused while pushing or lifting heavy items.
- Cart crashes resulting in injury to the driver and others around.
- Injuries developed while moving baggage between aircraft and carts.
- Not having appropriate training in the health and safety methods associated with manual handling, resulting in an injury.
Calculating Compensation Claims For Accidents At An Airport
Injuries caused by accidents can vary greatly in their severity and how they impact your life. This is reflected in the compensation amounts awarded to those who make a successful claim. It is difficult to estimate how much you may be awarded without knowing the full extent of what happened to you, but to give you an idea, we have included a personal injury claims calculator below. These figures are only indicative, and we recommend that you contact us today if you want a more accurate estimate based on your individual situation.
| Injury | Severity | Amount | Comment on Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain Damage | Less Severe | £14,380 to £40,410 | Injuries will have made a good recovery but may still have persisting symptoms such as impaired concentration ability, memory loss, and mood swings which may affect personal life and ability to work in the future. |
| Minor Brain or Head Injury | Minor | £2,070 to £11,980 | There will be little to no brain damage associated with these head injuries, and the bracket may change according to how long symptoms persist for, if there are any headaches present, and on the severity or the original injury. |
| Neck Injury | Severe (i) | In the region of £139,210 | This bracket covers injuries that include incomplete paraplegia, or permanent spastic quadriparesis. Injuries here may also result in a person not seeing any improvement in neck mobility despite wearing a collar for a number of years and who also suffers persistent severe headaches. |
| Neck Injury | Minor (i) | £4,080 to £7,410 | This bracket mainly covers soft tissue injuries, but can vary greatly according to persistence of symptoms, the type of treatment needed, and over all effect on a person’s life. In general, injuries in this bracket will be expected to heal in one to two years. |
| Back Injury | Severe (iii) | £36,390 to £65,440 | This bracket covers fracture to vertebrae and discs, as well as other soft tissue injuries that lead to chronic conditions. These injuries will commonly result in persisting symptoms of pain, discomfort depression, loss of sexual function, impairment to mobility as well as posing a risk to future employability. |
| Back Injury | Minor (i) | £7,410 to £11,730 | Again, covering soft tissue injuries, this bracket can also change according to severity, treatment needed, how long symptoms take to pass, as well as affect it has on other parts of the body. Injuries in this bracket are usually expected to recover without surgery in two to five years. |
| Hip and Pelvis Injury | Severe (i) | £73,580 to £122,860 | Injuries in this bracket will include extensive fractures which affect the lower back that may require spinal fusion, as well as damage to organs near the hips and pelvis such as the bladder and bowels. This could lead to impairment of these organs, as well as affect women by presenting issue when they are in labour. |
| Hip and Pelvis Injury | Moderate (ii) | £11,820 to £24,950 | This bracket commonly covers injuries that require a hip replacement and can include cases where a hip replacement may be possible in the future because of the injury, and there will usually be persisting symptoms. |
| Leg Injury | Severe (i) | £90,320 to £127,530 | This includes injuries that are so severe, it leaves a person no better off than if the leg had been amputated entirely. This can include degloving injuries, or fractures that have required extensive bone grafts to treat. |
| Leg Injury | Less Serious (i) | £16,860 to £26,050 | This includes fractures and serious soft tissue injuries that do not perfectly heal. They may result in symptoms that persist such as a permanent limp, trouble walking, as well as cosmetic deformity and nerve damage. |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Moderately Severe | £21,730 to £56,180 | Recovery with special help. However the effects may go on to have a bearing on all aspects of life and cause significant disability. |
| Food Poisoning | Serious but short-lived food poisoning (ii) | £8,950 to £18,020 | For two to fours weeks or so diarrhoea and vomitting. Remaining discomfort and disturbance of bowel function and impact on sex life and enjoyment of food over a few years. |
For information on special damages, please see the next section of our Bristol Airport accident claims guide.
What Special Damages Could Be Claimed For?
Regardless of where the accident happened or what caused the accident, you may be awarded special damages as part of your Bristol Airport accident claims if you have lost out financially. Above in the compensation calculator are figures for pain and suffering. These are known as general damages and compensates you for the your injury or illness. Alongside these damages, there are also special damages which could be claimed for.
These cover the financial hardship associated with your injury. We have included some of them here, but it is important to note that only the ones which apply to your case may be included, as every claim is different. Special damages could include loss of earning, for the time taken off work, as well as claiming for future loss of earnings in more serious cases.
They could include claiming for travel expenses you accrued while travelling between medical and legal appointments. You could also claim for medical costs that built up while treating your injury and could include prescription costs, costs for attending mental health counselling sessions, as well as other associated costs for treatment. For more information on what you may be able to claim, contact us today. In the meantime, please read on to the next section of our Bristol Airport accident claims guide to learn more about the services provided by our panel of personal injury lawyers.
No Win No Fee Claims For Accidents At Bristol Airport
If you’re considering making Bristol Airport accident claims for yourself, you may be interested in getting legal representation. The term No win no fee is used to describe a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is the underlining contract between you and your solicitor when you take out a claim. This CFA states that if your solicitor does not win your case, then you are not liable to cover the costs of their personal legal fees.
If they are successful, then the fees would be deducted from the compensation amount awarded for your airport injury claim. The maximum amount a solicitor can expect for personal legal fees is capped at 25% of the overall amount, and all fees or costs would be discussed with your solicitor prior to making your personal injury claim.
Why Choose Our Travel Accidents Claims Team?
Here at Accident Claims UK, we handle all of our personal injury claims on a no win no fee basis, and we do not ask for any upfront costs. Our advisors are ready and waiting to answer any questions you may have about Bristol Airport accident claims and to help you decide if you may have grounds to proceed with a claim. From the first consultation, our team will be working hard to secure the maximum compensation award for the injuries you have suffered through the fault of a third party. Contact us today using our contact details below.
Start Your Claim
If you are looking for more information about making Bristol Airport accident claims, then reach out to our friendly advisors today, who will be only too happy to take your call. You can reach us on 0800 073 8801. If you would prefer for us to call you, then you can arrange a time of your choosing by filling our handy online contact form.
Essential References
We hope that you have found what you needed in this article about Bristol Airport accident claims. To provide some more useful information we have included some links below;
- How To Claim Compensation For Injuries Caused By An Accident At An Airport? – See our more general online guide to making claims for airport accidents.
- Claim For A Slip, Trip Or Fall Injury – This is our online to making a claim for a slip or trip accident.
Airport Safety Resources
- Am I Entitled To Compensation? – See this Civil Aviation Authority page about your rights at the airport.
- Airport Safety – See this other page form the Civil Aviation Authority on requirements for airport staff on airport safety.
- Health And Safety Made Simple – See this article from the HSE for more advice on health and safety in the air transport industry.
Thank you for reading our guide on how to make Bristol Airport accident claims today.
Article by JF
Edited by MM