American Airlines Workers’ Compensation Claims

At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, we represent injured American Airlines employees in their claims for workers’ compensation. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (IWCA) provides legal rights and protections to aviation workers, such as people employed by American Airlines, who have suffered job-related injuries or the aggravation of a pre-existing condition. Our skilled Chicago American Airlines workers’ compensation lawyers guide injured employees through the process of asserting their rights. We can help pursue benefits for medical care and lost income, ensuring that American Airlines workers can focus on recovering from their injuries.

If you are an American Airlines worker who has suffered injuries, you should consult the workers’ compensation lawyers at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca. Call 312-724-5846 or email us for a free consultation.

Preserve Your Rights When Bringing an American Airlines Workers’ Compensation Claim

State law protects employees who meet certain requirements under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. If an American Airlines employee lives outside Illinois, they may still be entitled to the protections of the IWCA. If an employee is injured in Illinois, or if their employment is principally located in the state, the IWCA likely applies to them. Additionally, if the hiring contract was entered into within Illinois, the employee may choose to pursue workers’ compensation benefits under the IWCA.

According to the IWCA, workers who suffer injuries “arising out of and in the course of employment” may pursue compensation. This means that an injured airline worker needs to show that they suffered harm as a result of their job duties. The types of injuries that are covered by the IWCA include not only sudden accidents but also illnesses as well as repetitive stress injuries. For example, the IWCA covers carpal tunnel syndrome, which is an example of a repetitive trauma, typically located in the hand.

The response to a job-related injury may involve physical therapy and reduced work. Proving that this type of injury is compensable often requires utilizing specific medical standards, set forth in the IWCA. In other words, without the help of medical specialists and experts, it may be more difficult for an injured worker and an American Airlines workers’ compensation attorney in Chicago to prove that they are entitled to a remedy under the law.

Workers’ compensation provides for benefits, but these benefits are more limited than in a personal injury lawsuit. American Airlines workers who successfully prove the compensability of their injury may be entitled to recover medical expenses and wages from missed work due to the disability. In the event of a disabling injury, there may be total disability payments.

There are certain circumstances that may lend themselves to pursuing both a workers’ compensation claim and a personal injury claim. If a third party’s negligence or misconduct has contributed to your injuries, and you happened to be hurt while working, you may have a valid claim for workers’ compensation benefits through American Airlines as well as a personal injury lawsuit against the third party.

Injuries Caused By Turbulence

In 2017, an American Airlines flight traveling from Greece to Philadelphia experienced severe turbulence, such that seven crew members and three passengers were injured and had to be taken to the hospital to be treated. Thirty minutes prior to landing, the flight began shaking and dropping altitude. One flight attendant dislocated his shoulder during the turbulence. The force caused drinks and garbage to be thrown around the cabin.

Flight attendants and other crew members can suffer injuries caused by turbulence on American Airlines flights. These injuries can occur while a crew member is pushing a meal or beverage cart or as a result of falling luggage or while helping passengers. In some cases, a flight attendant absorbs the force of a heavy object and prevents it from hitting someone else.

Lifting Injuries

One of the most common injury to an American Airline worker are accidents in which employees suffer lifting injuries. These are injuries that can make it very difficult to work and continue to earn a living, and they often necessitate various treatments.

Those who work on airlines are endangered by the particular risks associated with flights. From loading luggage onto an airplane, to moving carry-ons inside the plane, these activities can lead to the suffering of lifting injuries to the back or shoulder. These types of injuries can temporarily or permanently incapacitate workers.

Injured American Airlines Employee? Get A Free Consultation

Our workers’ compensation attorneys bring decades of combined experience to our representation of injured American Airlines employees. We understand the devastating consequences of a job-related accident, both financially and emotionally. We can help you assert a claim to compensation that is supported by evidence from medical professionals and vocational experts. Our job injury attorneys have helped many victims obtain the benefits that they need, including people in Springfield, Champaign, Aurora, Rockford, and Quincy, as well as other communities in Kane, Cook, Champaign, Sangamon, Winnebago, and Adams Counties. Call us at 312-724-5846 or contact us online to set up a free appointment with an American Airlines workers’ compensation lawyer in Illinois.