Air traveler injury claims are not restricted to in-flight accidents. Even if the accident or injury did not happen inside the aircraft, you can still be eligible for compensation. Airlines are also held liable for injuries to passengers on the tarmac/runway, during the embarking and disembarking of the plane.
If you were walking towards the aircraft to board, and you slip and fall due to icy conditions, you would be eligible to file an air traveler injury claim. This is still the case even if you’re in a foreign country, boarding a flight, heading home to Canada. However, if you’re travelling internationally to another international destination, the Montreal Convention will not cover you: making you ineligible for compensation through Canada’s legal system.
A recent case following a flight to Sydney, Australia from Vancouver, was hit with heavy turbulence, resulting in the injury of 37 passengers. Since this flight left from a Canadian city, the Montreal Convention will apply to this case and the injured passengers.
If you have a question about this topic or another legal issue, contact us for a free legal consultation. Reach us at 250-888-0002, or via email at info@leaguelaw.com.