Seven Common Flight Crew Workers’ Compensation Claims

Working as a pilot or flight attendant exposes you to different injury risks, even if you follow safety protocols in airports or on flights. These injuries may result in temporary or permanent disabilities that prevent you from returning to work and earning enough income.

Fortunately, these work-related injuries entitle you to receive workers’ compensation to cover your medical costs and lost income.

So, it’s better to know the common flight crew injuries where you can claim benefits from your employer. Knowing these helps protect your right once you encounter a workplace injury.

Flight Crew Injuries that Let You Claim Workers’ Compensation

1. Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall accidents are common for flight crew staff and may result from factors like:

• Food and drink spills on the floor
• Uneven, slippery, or damaged flooring
• Unforeseen obstacles like luggage

While these accidents appear simple, they can lead to severe injuries like:

• Laceration
• Bone fracture
• Head trauma and brain injury
• Spine damage

So, seek an immediate medical evaluation and consult a Burbank workers’ compensation attorney to claim benefits after a slip and fall accident.

2. Overexertion

Overexertion due to pushing your body too hard while performing tasks like lifting heavy luggage can prove harmful.

It often results in minor discomforts but may also cause significant tearing or stretching of muscles, ligaments, and tendons. In worst cases, you may require surgery to repair damaged tissues.

3. Turbulent Injuries

These injuries are unique in the airline industry as they happen when the plane suddenly jerks because of turbulence. The sudden movement could cause accidents like:

• Falling and hitting your body parts on hard surfaces
• Rapidly knocking your head in different directions causes neck whiplash
• Knocking off heavy objects from the overhead compartment and falling on you

4. Repetitive Stress Injury

This injury type refers to muscle, tendon, and ligament damages you may sustain from repetitive and constant movements. The hands, shoulders, neck, and back areas are also prone to this injury as they move a lot while you work.

For example, you may sustain carpal tunnel syndrome because of repetitive gripping and carrying of luggage. You may also strain your back because of frequently bending in the workplace.

5. Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Shift work disorder is common among workers outside the regular 9 to 5 job schedule. The irregular job shift can disrupt your sleep pattern and cause symptoms like:

• Sleepiness
• Insomnia
• Lack of focus
• Frequent headaches
• Fatigue
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Cardiovascular issues

Moreover, shift work disorder makes you prone to workplace accidents as your body cannot perform at top condition.

6. Burn Injuries

You may sustain burns because of hot spills, especially while bringing food and beverages to the passengers. And this injury may range from simple to severe skin burns.

7. Physical Altercation

Violence sometimes happens in the airport or on flights because of unruly passengers. Flight crew employees will try to control the situation by restraining the misbehaving person. So, they may acquire different physical injuries like:

• Laceration
• Bruise
• Bone fracture
• Head trauma

The injury you may sustain depends on how the unruly passenger assaults you during the incident.

Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Burbank for Flight Crew Injuries

These seven most common injuries push flight crew employees to claim workers’ compensation. The benefits pay for their medical expenses and fill their lost wages while taking enough time to recover.

You thus need to claim workers’ comp if you sustain any of the injuries above. A Burbank workers’ compensation attorney will assist you throughout the process and help you get the rightful benefits.