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?

I'd definitely take legal advice. I'm surprised that the fire department didn't suggest that you go to A&E in Florida though and why you didn't get proper medical help at the time rather than getting on another flight when you were in extreme pain.

You poor woman, what an awful experience. I hope you feel better very soon. Have you had the CT scan yet?

Do you have anyone who can call your insurance company on your behalf OP, asap. And explain the situation and that you are too unwell to contact them yourself? And ask their advice? I would definitely sue also - especially if your travel insurance company reject your claim which they may if you didn't follow their processes. Hopefully not though.

This must have been very frightening, I'm so sorry. I have myself taken heavy hand luggage on a BA flight (probably approaching 18kg) so I can entirely believe such a case could cause a lot of damage.

I'm so confused and I don't think people can actually properly advise you without some clarity. You were admitted to and treated in a US hospital but you haven't given them any insurance details and they discharged you without you paying for this treatment? That doesn't sound accurate?

I take it you aren't a medical professional. The point of paramedics is to deal with the situation at scene. It's not 30 years ago when am ambulance man just scooped people up and took them to hospital causing all sorts of damage.

Wow, that is amazing. Having had treatment in USA the first thing they wanted was insurance details.

You were unbelievably fortunate to be treated at no cost.

Noone.

I did go to hospital in Florida

Don’t quite understand but definitely sounds like a shit show

also sounds like you need a good rest

either get someone to contact insurance on your behalf or do it yourself when feeling better

do you have some proof that the story actually happened? I believe you but BA might try and deny. In fact they almost certainly will.

If it was just the incident itself, then I would say no, don't. But the way they dealt with you sounds appalling. Clearly they have no procedures in place. But even without them, some empathy and common sense could have helped you. So I think you would be within your rights to seek compensation.

I was vaguely thinking they would bill me later. I do remember them trying to get me to talk to a screen but zi don't think I could speak clearly enough.

You're definitely not thinking straight if you're making numerous posts on Mumsnet instead of Contacting Your Insurance Company.

Just be aware that suing is not for the faint hearted. It took 6 years, many many medical assessments and loads of paperwork before I got a payout for a horrific road accident in a foreign country, where the blame was undisputed.

Are you still in hospital now? Have you had your scan? What was the result?

The plane has a timed slot, the plane needs to depart. You were taken off the plane and taken to hospital how long did you want treatment on the plane for?
It was a head injury you needed to go to hospital. Your teenagers were stood there crying have you considered all the other people on the plane who wanted to depart. Paramedics took you to hospital that was correct, you've mentioned a CT scan how could they have done that on the plane?

The 1999 Montreal Convention holds the airline liable for your injuries, OP. You need advice from your insurance company or solicitor about how broadly this can be construed, but the spirit of the treaty is fairly generous. It appears to be a very clear case from what you have described, but IANAL.

I lived in America for some time and I’ve also never heard of wandering out of A&E without providing payment information.

I am sorry this happened, and I hope you and your DC recover quickly.

Headway might be a useful charity for you. They have their own forum as well. Headway.org.uk

It might be worth being aware that there is a possibility that the crew may also have been getting input (via phone) from the airline's own on call medical advisors (usually A&E/ER Physicians) so the firefighter/paramedics might not have been the only medical pros in the loop.

I have to admit I'd find it odd if the captain really insisted the OP was made to leave the aircraft by walking if the firefighters were sure a stretcher was the best option...

@UndertheCedartree I'm sorry this has happened to you OP, but you must contact your travel insurers and report the accident details to them. Making a formal complaint to BA and/or suing them is something you can think about further down the line, but your priority now is advising your insurer what's happened, to ensure you don't suffer any out-of-pocket expenses from your US Emergency dept treatment. One of the terms and conditions of your insurance policy is that you notify them promptly of any potentially insured incident and you are already 2.5 days on from it. Do you have any friends or family who can help you access your policy details and phone your insurer today?
Also, have you had the results of the CT scan you had done yesterday in your local A&E dept?

Paramed8cs wanted to complete observations. That was correct. Personally I would not have minded my plane being delayed for another human beings health.

I don't know how to get in c9ntact with my insurance company.

Op I think you should stop posting on here and contact your travel insurance.
The fact you can post here should mean you can speak to them.

Would they detain you then? I don't know maybe I wasn't meant to leave. I honestly don't know. I had paperwork.

Would they detain you then? I don't know maybe I wasn't meant to leave. I honestly don't know. I had paperwork.

This. This is what your travel insurance is for and they should have been your first call.
I am sorry - concussion is awful and can last for weeks.