Named after the famed Peanuts cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS) is situated 7 miles from Downtown Santa Rosa, California. The airport’s logo features the iconic Peanuts character Snoopy on top of his doghouse, dressed in his World War I pilot attire. The image is appropriate, considering that the facility was originally known as Santa Rosa Army Airfield as training grounds for several Air Force fighter groups. Today, STS offers commercial flights to various cities in California, Texas, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
While this is one of the smaller airports in California, it is no less prone to accidents on the premises. Fall-related incidents are especially common, and it’s up to airport owners and operators to run a safe and clean property for the sake of preventing injuries to others. If you or your loved one tripped on something or slipped and fell at the airport, you may be owed compensation by the Sonoma County DOT or any other party that caused or contributed to your accident. To learn about your rights from a lawyer experienced in slip and fall accidents at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, contact us immediately to schedule a free case evaluation.
Suing the Airport for a Slip and Fall or Trip and Fall Accident
You are probably aware that the mere act of falling down at an airport doesn’t give you the right to demand monetary compensation from the Sonoma County DOT (owner / operator of Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport). So, what are the legal standards you need to meet in order to file an airport accident liability claim?
First and foremost, you must have been injured from a condition that the airport is legally responsible for, like water on the floor from a leaking pipe or coffee that was spilled by one of the employees. Under the law of premises liability, there are many hazards that airport staff must resolve right away to prevent an accident on the property. If they cannot remove or repair the hazard right away, safety barriers and/or signs should be used to give warning to others. Examples of conditions that can cause you to fall and injure yourself at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport include:
- Slippery floors in the bathrooms
- Broken hand rails
- Poor lighting
- Clutter in the aisles
- Frayed or bunched up edges of rugs and carpets
- Defective escalators
- Lack of Wet Floor signs and/or safety barriers
- Potholes and deep pavement cracks in the parking lot
- Icy sidewalks
With some of these hazards, the airport may not be the only entity that can be blamed for your injuries. We mentioned defective escalators, which are a major source of serious injuries at California airports. Since the airport is responsible for maintaining the escalators, they are generally named as the defendant in an STS slip and fall lawsuit or trip and fall claim. However, what if the problem with the escalator occurred during the manufacturing process? A mechanical defect, for example, could lead to the escalators coming to a stop without warning. If you fell off the escalators as a result, you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer, as well as the owners of Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport.
Other parties that may be sued for an airport fall injury include delivery companies, contractors, public transportation services, rideshare companies, and restaurants in airport terminals. Due to these complications, we recommend that you speak with an STS airport slip and fall lawyer as soon as possible.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
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Injuries You can Sustain if You Fell and got Injured at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport
So far, we’ve talked about the causes of accidents involving falls at a California airport. But are these accidents really that serious? To answer that question, let’s take a look at the injuries you can end up with if you slip or trip on something at the airport:
- Deep lacerations
- Dislocated shoulder
- Fractured kneecap
- Torn ligaments and tendons
- Broken hip
- Traumatic brain injury
- Hand, wrist, or ankle sprain
- Whiplash
- Injury to the spinal cord
- Rupturing of internal organs
- Paralysis / loss of function
- Permanent scars
- Chronic pain
- Fatality
Tragically, airport slip and fall injuries can cause death when they involve serious conditions like hip fracture or spinal cord damage. Immediate medical treatment can help prevent most of these incidents, but the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions may lose their lives due to complications from their injuries. Loved ones of the decedent may have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit, which is meant to provide compensation for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost earnings, and other financial and emotional losses. However, these are very complex legal actions, so it’s important to seek help from a lawyer with experience in wrongful death claims involving slip and fall or trip and fall incidents.
Steps to Follow after an Accident at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport
The pain and confusion after an accident are difficult to deal with, especially when you’re at a public place with many other people. You may want to go home and just forget about the incident, but this is the worst thing you can do as an accident victim at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport. Instead, here are some tips on what you should do:
- Notify airport security or other employees that you’ve been injured. This will initiate an incident report, which is essential to the legal process for a premises liability lawsuit.
- If at all possible, take pictures of the injuries you’ve suffered and the hazard that’s responsible for your accident.
- Note any security cameras in the area, as they may have footage that can serve as evidence.
- If there are people who witnessed the accident, get their emails, phone numbers, etc., so they can be contacted later for a witness statement.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible, as you will need proof of the harm you’ve suffered from the accident.
- Obtain legal advice from an STS trip and fall attorney or a lawyer experienced in slip and fall injuries at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport.
Monetary Restitution from an Airport Accident Injury Claim
If it can be established that you were harmed due to negligence or misconduct by airport operators / employees, you are entitled to payment in the form of economic and non-economic damages. We have listed these categories below:
- Cost of medical treatments and services
- Wages and work benefits that were lost due to your recovery needs
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Legal fees
- Punitive damages
If you’d like to learn which of these damages you can include in your lawsuit, don’t hesitate to give us a call. The Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport trip and fall attorneys of Normandie will ensure that you receive maximum payment from a fall injury accident claim.
What is the Average Value of an Airport Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
Settlement ranges can be helpful in giving you a sense of the amount you can recover from an STS airport slip and fall lawsuit. If we were to go by past verdicts and settlements here at Normandie Law Firm, an airport slip and fall case may be worth around $200,000 to over $2.5 million. Those with minor injuries will likely receive less, but it’s worth noting that many of these accidents result in moderate to severe injuries.
Now, let’s look at case values for a Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport trip and fall lawsuit. Again, if we go by lawsuits we have handled over the years, we would place the majority of these cases within the range of $300,000 to $2.5 million. Please be aware that case values tend to be lower among those that represent themselves. These cases are often settled for around $10,000 to $50,000 due to the victim’s inexperience with the legal system. That’s why it’s essential to retain the services of an STS slip and fall lawyer if you are seeking compensation from a lawsuit against Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport.
Statute of Limitations – Deadline to File an STS Trip and Fall Lawsuit
No matter how much you are due from a lawsuit against STS, you will need to file your lawsuit on time to receive compensation from the responsible parties. The statute of limitations depends on the type of entity you are suing, and in the case of Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, you would need to file a claim against the Sonoma County DOT. As this is an agency under the County of Sonoma, you have up to 6 months after the accident date to submit a compensation claim.
Once the agency receives your claim forms, they have 45 days to send you a response. Generally, you will receive an approval letter with a settlement offer or a notice of denial. If your claim is denied, you have 6 months to sue the Sonoma County DOT. Sometimes, the agency fails to send a response by the required deadline of 45 days. In that case, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of injury.
It’s easy to get confused by these deadlines and the procedures that are required by a government agency. For guidance from a Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport slip and fall lawyer or trip and fall attorney, contact us at our law firm.
How Long is the Case Settlement Process?
The legal process to settle an airport liability case can be short as 30 days, though this is the exception rather than the rule. Due to the complexities that are involved in lawsuits against the government, it’s more likely that we will need anywhere from 6 to 12 months to negotiate a favorable settlement on your behalf. If we cannot reach an agreement directly with the defendant, there is the option of filing a lawsuit and preparing for a trial. A trial is unlikely, but the legal actions that are necessary to bring you payment can extend your case timeline considerably, perhaps by two or more years.
Second Opinion from an STS Airport Slip and Fall Injuries Lawyer
It’s quite common to have doubts and concerns when you are waiting for payment from a lawsuit. Maybe you don’t understand why it’s taking so long to settle your claim. You may also find it difficult to get in touch with your lawyer when you have important questions or need updates on your case. Fortunately, you don’t have to struggle with these issues on your own. An attorney for slip and fall accidents at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport is available to evaluate your case and provide you with a second opinion. We do not charge for these consultations, so there’s harm in scheduling a second opinion to learn about your rights and legal options.
Contact a Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport Slip and Fall Lawsuit Attorney
Have you suffered bodily harm from slipping on something at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport? Did a hazardous condition at the airport cause you to trip and injure yourself? Legal representation is the key to protecting your interests in these situations, which we are more than ready to provide you with here at Normandie Law Firm.
We have over two decades of experience in the recovery of settlements for airport accident victims, and know what it takes to secure the highest possible settlement for you and your loved ones. In the meantime, you shouldn’t be burdened by the cost of hiring an attorney when someone else caused you harm and suffering. The Zero Fee Guarantee means all our services are free to you from day one. Our expenses are included in your settlement award, so the only way we receive payment is by winning your case.
As you can see, there’s nothing to lose by contacting us and speaking with an attorney at our law firm. We look forward to meeting you and ensuring that justice is served through a trip and fall or slip and fall lawsuit against Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport.
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