WWYD? Concussion after suitcase fell on my head!

[UndertheCedartree]

Just a thread to get opinions on this and decide what to do.

I was boarding my flight home from Florida on Thursday evening and was just sitting down when a suitcase landed on my head having fallen from the overhead locker. Honestly, the whole experience has been horrible and I feel I've been really badly treated. Being in the US all the Americans keep telling me to sue!

I don't necessarily want to do that but I would like to stop someone experiencing the same. Or I just forget about it and move on. Just interested to hear opinions.

So after it happened they called firefighters (who are paramedics too) to attend. When waiting for this I noticed they had moved my hand luggage off the plane and got my teenage children out of their seats who were both standing there crying. The firefighters came and the airline crew were telling me I have to go to hospital. I asked for some observations to be done and a stretcher brought. They insisted I had to get off the plane. The pilot came out, no empathy atall, just told me to get off the plane or he would call the police! I went with the firefighters and they told me they would have preferred to do observations before moving me but have to do what the airline says.

Anyway they took me to hospital and they said I was ok to fly home the next day. I tried to get in touch with someone to ask for some accommodations to make the flight more bearable as I was in so much pain. I was told I have to speak to 'the airport team' - we arrived at the airport at 11am and there was noone from the airline there. Eventually they came at 1pm but told me they just work on their behalf they can do nothing I need to speak to the airline on the phone/online. Tried numbers, messaging for hours. Eventually I was told they would make sure I was comfortable on the flight with pillows etc. We got on the flight having been up for a day and a half and so uncomfortable from.just sitting on airport seating, I thought I was finally going to be comfortable. When I got on board I asked for a pillow. You would have thought I'd asked for the crown jewels! I was shouted at, told there was only one pillow person customer (not actually a pillow just a small thin cushion) It was a horrible, painful flight and I felt so bad and was so dizzy when I got off the flight I am now in A&E.

They think it is a concussion but I failed one of the neurological observations so I'm waiting for a CT scan. I honestly think they could have taken more care and been much nicer. Wwyd?

Sorry, I'm not feeling very well.

Definitely. Your hospital bill just have been enormous, plus flight changes etc

I was not expected to walk off. The paramedics wanted to do observations and get a stretcher but were not allowed because of the pilot. I just wanted what the medical professionals wanted.

And the care the firefighters wanted was very basic. It would have been much more thorough in the UK.

So you went to hospital in America and didn’t contact your insurance. Did you pay for your treatment?

My health should have come first not getting us off the plane as soon as possible.

Crew put a lot up too as well as reorganising.

Think people questioning this have never had something hard hit them on the head before from a height. I had an industrial style hoover hit me on the head from the top of stairs..it hurts. I hope you’re doing okay xx

There is no weight limit.

I cannot imagine trying to lift a 23kg bag into an overhead locker.

You think the US and UK paramedics were over reacting?

I agree, the pilot was probably concerned about missing his take off slot but that does not excuse the way you were treated. I would complain to BA, giving full details of the flight so they’ll know who the crew were.

I saw this happen on a flight last year. Air stewardess was rearranging luggage in the overhead bin and one fell out onto the person below whilst she was rearranging this.

definitely write to the airline and ask for compensation for direct costs incurred eg meals, travel etc. and ask for eg cost of flight back. I’m not sure you can sue for more than direct costs unless you’ve had to take time off work or suffered anything else.

I have had a wheelie suitcase type cabin bag fall from an overhead mid flight when someone was trying to get something in the overhead.
It landed on the cot my baby was sleeping in but thankfully the rim of the cot prevented it from landing on her.
I can understand how potentially seriously injured you could be.

I have also had the experience of an immediate family member getting ill and being hospitalised in the US.
Even 25 years ago there was a bill of over $100.000 which the insurance paid.

Was there another adult with you or just the teenagers?
Someone must have dealt with the paperwork in the hospital and arranging flights and accommodation.
You really need to contact your insurer immediately. You have to do it as soon as possible are the incident.
If you or another adult gave the hospital your insurance details they may already have been notified but it is essential you contact them now.

Ok so if it's BA it's presumably British staff on the plane and you would be complaining to a British company. Nothing to do with American sue culture but I would certainly take the H&S route of complaining in the uk.

The suitcases in cabins drive me mad they are so big and it's always Americans who seem to bring the biggest cases and an entire wardrobe to change mid flight. The staff won't challenge the Americans because they argue too much whereas a British kid with a rucksack 1cm over the limit is treated like a criminal! It is dangerous and I'm surprised worse hasn't happened to date.

Get yourself seen by a British doctor then send a complaint in and copy the HSE or whoever is responsible for health and safety these days.

They did put your health first, they got you off the plane and took you to hospital.

What did you want, to have observations and treatment on the plane?
The plane needed to depart you needed medical help = get you off the plane ASAP.

When someone cannot walk with a neck/head injury it is the safest option. Hence medics wanting it. My kids are autistic, saw their mum seriously injured and were being treated with hostility - yes, it was too much for them.

I have travel insurance. Not contacted them. Airline did nothing. I was not in a fit state to contact them immediately. I could do now.

Sorry for your accident OP, and sorry for the horrible responses you’re now getting from idiots on the internet.

First things first I would call your insurance and explain the situation in detail, as presumably you need to claim for US hospital expenses and the missed flight? They will likely take an interest in trying to recover their costs from BA as BA are potentially liable if you were hit on the head by another customers suitcase through no fault of your own.

I would also contact BA and inform them you are considering legal action, outlining the incident so hopefully someone with a bit of authority can look into it and provide some answers/compensation.

What happened must have been horrible and I am by no means an ambulance chaser but I’d be wanting some form of compensation for this horrible experience which no doubt ruined the end of your holiday!

I would need to locate my belongings. With insurance information.

So who paid the hospital bill?

I’d be pretty upset if I saw my mum get hit on the head by a heavy object and injured and I’m a grown woman in my 30s. Are you completely devoid of empathy?

Just me and teenagers. I am starting to feel sick again. I will try to see if someone can help me contact insurance company.

I've not been given a bill.

I don't think I have anyway. It's all very blurry.