What happens after an airline employee dies due to work injuries?

Airline workers pursue a relatively dangerous profession. While actual airplane crashes are relatively rare, workers can get hurt in a variety of dangerous on-the-job incidents. Airline workers deal with large numbers of people, some of whom may be anxious or under the influence. They have to screen for criminal activity and terrorist threats.

They also work in close proximity to dangerous moving equipment. Conveyor belts, ground transport vehicles and airplanes can all potentially cause severe injuries. Airline workers are also at risk of deadly incidents, especially in situations involving machinery and vehicles.

Professionals operating airplanes, working in airports and maintaining runways are all potentially at risk of major on-the-job incidents. With the headquarters for American Airlines right here in Chicago, there are many workers locally who could be vulnerable to severe injury or premature mortality on the job.

What happens if an airline worker dies due to an on-the-job incident?

Workers’ compensation benefits may be available

In some cases, airline workers sustain injuries and initiate workers’ compensation claims on their own behalf. They may then later die due to their injuries. Other times, an incident at an airport could prove immediately fatal for the professional involved. For example, an incident with ground transportation could produce fatal internal injuries, as recently happened at an United Airlines facility in Denver, where a vehicle incident resulted in a worker’s death.

In either scenario, the surviving family members of the airline worker may be able to request death benefits. Workers’ compensation can pay for the cost of medical care, including emergency trauma care and surgery after a workplace incident. Surviving family members may be eligible for funeral benefits of up to $8,000 that help offset the cost of burial and memorial services. Workers’ compensation can also provide wage replacement benefits for surviving dependent family members.

In most cases, participation in the workers’ compensation program indemnifies employers from civil litigation, which means a lawsuit may not be an option. Those still struggling to adjust after a fatal airline incident, possibly involving an United Airlines employee, may need help pursuing a worker’s claim, and that’s okay. Seeking benefits can reduce the impact of a recent tragedy and can help family members rebuild their lives.