Airline Injury Lawyer for Passengers With Disabilities
No win, no fee airline injury attorney: You only pay attorney’s fees if we successfully win your case.
Air travel should be accessible and safe for everyone, but this isn’t always the reality. Passengers with disabilities can face unsafe conditions during their journeys that lead to serious injuries.
These situations can have legal consequences. When airlines don’t provide adequate support, they might be violating the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), a federal law that prohibits discrimination in air travel.
An airline injury lawyer can help when something goes wrong before, during, or after a flight. It doesn’t matter which airline is involved — compensation may be available after an injury.
Why Choose Stoll & Haynes?
For more than 30 years, we’ve handled just about every type of personal injury case, including car accidents, slip and falls, and product liability. We also pursue more specialized claims that other firms may not take on, such as airline injuries and ACAA violations.
Here’s why you should work with us:
- Free and confidential case reviews: Discuss your case and understand your legal rights during an initial consultation at no cost.
- Proven track record of success: Our team has secured multi-million-dollar victories for clients in the past.
- No win, no fee: You don’t pay any attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.
We’re located on Montgomery Street in San Francisco’s Financial District.
A major airline accessibility case handled by Stoll & Haynes received worldwide media coverage, including by CBS News and the UK’s Independent. It involved a lawsuit arising from a serious incident during deplaning at Monroe Regional Airport in Louisiana in 2019. Read more about the case.
Airline Accessibility Injuries Lawyer Team
Meet the personal injury attorneys at Stoll & Haynes:
Albert G. Stoll, Jr.
Al has 30+ years of personal injury experience and has been involved in over 40 jury trials. He has an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Walter A. Haynes IV
Walt stands up for victims in personal injury cases and is a licensed private detective. He also co-founded the San Francisco Lawyers Network.
Joseph Cagigas
Joseph tackles all kinds of personal injury matters, helping victims in the Bay Area and beyond. He approaches every case with honesty and professionalism.
Michael Seville
As a highly experienced personal injury lawyer, Michael helps victims pursue compensation for harm and losses. He also handles wrongful death cases.
What Are Airline Accessibility Accidents?
Accidents can occur when airlines fail to provide proper assistance to disabled travelers.
Problems might happen when:
- Transferring passengers between wheelchairs and flight seats
- Wheelchairs and other mobility devices are returned damaged
- Wheelchair assistance at an airport is delayed or not available
- Assistance requests aren’t followed properly
- Staff aren’t trained to provide adequate support
These issues may lead to physical injury and emotional harm.
Accidents can result from ongoing systemic failures in airline operations. For example, there may be a breakdown in communication between airline staff and third-party contractors that provide mobility assistance. When this happens, passengers may not receive the support they need.
What Is the ACAA?
Passengers with disabilities are protected by something called the Air Carrier Access Act (49 U.S.C. § 41705), passed by Congress in 1986 to protect disabled airline passengers from discrimination. All airlines flying in and out of the United States, including foreign carriers, must abide by this law. If they don’t, they could face consequences.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) enforces the ACAA through regulations in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 382.
Under these rules, airlines must provide:
- Accessible seating if a disabled traveler requires it
- Assistance during boarding, deplaning, and connecting flights
- Safe storage and handling of wheelchairs and other assistive devices
- Training for airline staff, such as cabin crew and gate agents
If you believe an airline has violated the ACAA, seek legal advice immediately. An airline injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for harm and losses, including medical bills and pain and suffering.
Related reading: Flying With a Disability? Your Rights Under the Air Carrier Access Act
Types of Airline Accessibility Injuries
Disabled travelers may suffer various injuries if airlines don’t provide necessary assistance:
Cuts, bruises, and fractures
Example: When a passenger falls during boarding, deplaning, or an unsafe transfer
Strains and joint injuries
Example: When a passenger is lifted incorrectly by airline staff or contractors
Head and spinal injuries
Example: When a passenger falls during an unsafe transfer between their wheelchair and their seat
A lack of proper assistance can also worsen medical conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, brain injuries, or chronic pain.
Physical injuries may have emotional consequences, too. Passengers could experience anxiety or not want to fly again after a traumatic experience.
Related reading: Injured While Flying? What Passengers With Mobility Challenges Must Know
What To Do After an Airline Accessibility Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured while flying, you’ll want to act as quickly as possible:
Speak to a Complaint Resolution Official
If airline staff don’t resolve your issue, you can ask to speak to a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO). Every airline is required to have one, and they must be available during airport operations. A CRO is trained to deal with accessibility-related complaints and can explain your rights under the ACAA.
Collect evidence
We recommend documenting what happened while the details are still fresh. Make a note of the time and location of the accident and who was involved. Taking photos and videos of any injuries can also be valuable.
File a complaint with the DOT
The Department of Transportation reviews complaints concerning ACAA violations. You can contact the agency via its online form or send a letter to this address:
Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590
Talk to an airline injury lawyer
While the DOT enforces the ACAA, you may benefit from legal support when an airline accessibility accident results in injury or loss. A skilled airline injury attorney like Stoll & Haynes can explain your options and help you file a personal injury claim that might result in compensation.
Do You Need an Airline Injury Lawyer?
Airlines often have large legal teams that aggressively protect their interests. They may deny or delay claims or blame victims for what happened.
This is where an attorney with experience in airline accessibility injury cases comes in.
The personal injury team at Stoll & Haynes can:
- Investigate what caused the incident and who’s responsible
- Collect and preserve key evidence that supports an airline accessibility injury claim
- Pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more
- Negotiate with the airline’s insurance company for a fair settlement
- Take the case to court if it’s necessary to do so
Airline Injury Lawyer FAQs
Most personal injury claims are subject to time limits called statutes of limitations, with deadlines varying from state to state. For example, in California, someone generally has 2 years from the date of the incident to file a claim.
Travelers with disabilities don’t have to hire a lawyer after an airline injury. However, these cases can be complex, especially when airlines have large legal teams and resources. An airline injury attorney can identify who’s responsible, gather key evidence, and negotiate with the airline’s insurance company for a fair settlement.
It depends on the facts of the case. However, a disabled passenger may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, and other damages.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need advice about your specific situation, please contact Stoll & Haynes directly.