If you were injured during a flight that ended in Maryland, you may have the right to sue the airline in a Maryland court. A recent appellate decision confirms that victims of in-flight injuries can file suit locally when the airline regularly conducts business in the state. You do not have to pursue your case where the airline is based. Filing close to home may ease the burden during recovery and place you on more familiar ground.
The decision came from a case involving an incident aboard a commercial flight arriving at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The passenger was injured while still inside the plane. Maryland’s intermediate appellate court confirmed that local courts could hear the case because the airline regularly lands and operates flights in Maryland. That level of activity gave Maryland courts the legal authority to listen to the claim.
Airlines Can Be Held Accountable Locally
An airline that chooses to operate flights into and out of Maryland submits itself to local courts. When a flight ends here, and someone is harmed on board, Maryland law allows for the case to proceed in state court. This jurisdictional rule helps injured passengers by giving them access to a nearby courthouse and familiar legal procedures. Filing close to home often makes a difficult process more manageable. You can continue medical care without traveling across the country just to seek justice.
What You Can Do After Getting Hurt Onboard
Act quickly if an in-flight incident leaves you with injuries. Start by requesting a copy of the flight’s incident report. Gather information from nearby passengers who saw what happened. Record every symptom you experienced after landing. Contacting medical providers early strengthens your claim. A complete record of treatment helps show how the incident affected your health and daily life.
You should also retain travel documents, boarding passes, and any written communication with the airline. When you gather everything early, your attorney will have the evidence needed to present a clear, persuasive claim. Taking small steps now often leads to a stronger outcome later.
Why Your Timing Can Affect the Outcome
Delays can cost you the ability to recover compensation. Airlines may argue that waiting to seek treatment weakens your claim. Filing early also helps preserve onboard data or crew testimony. Once you begin working with legal counsel, they can send notice letters and secure evidence before it disappears. Surveillance footage and flight data often vanish if not requested quickly.
You also want to act before memories fade. Witnesses remember details best shortly after the event. Crew members, maintenance teams, and other passengers may provide critical testimony, but their recollection becomes less reliable with time. Do not give the airline room to argue that key facts were lost due to the delay.
Understanding the Scope of an Airline Accident Claim
When you file a claim after an incident aboard a flight, the court looks at many factors. These may include cabin conditions, actions by flight crew, aircraft movement, and seat or aisle hazards. A successful case must tie the airline’s conduct or the physical space on the aircraft to your injury. This process takes skill and proper timing. It also requires a complete understanding of how airlines operate under both federal and state law.
An attorney can review the specific conditions on board, the airline’s safety protocols, and whether reasonable measures were in place to prevent passenger harm. The goal is not only to prove the airline was involved, but to show the damage could have been prevented with ordinary care.
Get Support from a Maryland Personal Injury Attorney
Your path to financial recovery after an in-flight injury starts with solid legal advice. You do not need to figure it all out alone. When the incident occurs during a flight that ends here in Maryland, you have the right to ask the court for help where you live. That allows you to stay close to family, your doctors, and a trusted legal team.
Call The Schupak Law Firm at 240‑833‑3914 today to schedule a free consultation. We represent individuals across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia who have suffered preventable harm. You deserve strong, informed support every step of the way.