Wakefield Woman Recovers Damages for Burns Suffered on Flight

Published: 28th February 2014

Liddy’s Solicitors helped a Wakefield woman to claim damages after she suffered second degree burns while traveling to Alicante by air for her 50th wedding anniversary.

A steward placed a cup of coffee on the fold down tray in front of her. She thinks there must have been some turbulence, or the passenger in front moved in his chair, but either way, the coffee slid off the tray into her lap.

As is always the case nowadays the coffee was superheated and it burnt her badly. Liddy’s Solicitors claimed damages on her behalf.

The airline said that she must have knocked it herself, but had no evidence as to what did happen. By agreement the airline accepted two-thirds of the responsibility for the accident.

Adding in sums for loss of enjoyment of their holiday, travel and medical fees, as well as for the injury suffered, the damages claim settled at £13,500 which was reduced by one-third to £9,000 for her contribution to the incident happening.

When accidents happen on airlines, very often the Montréal Convention applies. There is no need to prove negligence; only that an accident occurred and that it wasn’t the fault of the person injured.

There are other conditions such as that Court proceedings have to have been issued within two years of the accident.

Liddy’s Solicitors are handling a number of similar claims at the moment. These cases are sometimes complex and injuries from burns can be very serious.

For advice about how to make a personal injury claim, please contact Liddy’s on 01924 780 753 or 01226 731 314.