Philadelphia International Airport (PHL): A Brief History
In 1925, the City of Philadelphia decided to enter the aviation field, purchasing 125 acres of land to train Pennsylvania National Guard pilots. A few years later, the airport had the unique pleasure of honoring Charles A. Lindbergh, who was the first man to fly a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic ocean, from New York to Paris in 1927. Nearly a decade later, in 1940 Philadelphia International Airport, also known as the abbreviation PHL, opened for commercial flights only to be shut down in 1943 for military operations during World War II. 1950 marked the approval of a $ 15 million construction project of a new terminal, which was completed in 1953.
Nearly 20 years later, in 1972 the airport announced the completion of a $22 million expansion project completion, featuring an all-weather runway, and several high-speed taxiways. 1977 included a major milestone, including the completion of four unit terminals, several multi-level parking garages, and the eradication of the “central terminal.” The decade of the 1980’s featured renovations to new terminals, the implementation of local railroad, bus, and other forms of public transportation, as well as additional parking spaces. 2001 included the opening of new Terminal F, followed by Terminal A-West in 2003 nearly doubling the size of the airport.
From 2000 to the present day, PHL has continued modernizing the airport, adding baggage terminals, retailers, and restaurants. The airport also added additional runways, employees, gates, and various other forms of helpful aviation equipment. In 2005, PHL was ranked the 9th busiest airport in the world, hosting 535,666 aircraft operations during the calendar year. PHL is one of the busiest airports in the world today and has come a long way since 1940’s 40,000 passengers to today’s 30.7 million annual passengers.
Slip & Falls At PHL
PHL is currently one of the most influential U.S. airports on the east coast. In fact, the only airport that is busier in the Northeastern United States is John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. With such a high number of passengers traveling to and from PHL, there is bound to be times where there is moderate to extreme overcrowding in terminals, which can help promote slip and fall accidents.
Regardless of the cause of a slip, trip, or fall accident, if an airport property owner does not provide reasonably safe conditions for commuters, they can be held liable for damages to afflicted individuals in slip and fall cases. The definition of reasonably safe conditions is likely to vary from location to location, depending on time, weather, and a variety of other key factors. However, with such a high level of population density each day at PHL, employees must be especially cautious and thorough with building maintenance, repairs, and warning people of potential hazards.
Other common causes include:
- Uneven/broken sidewalks, roadways, or walking surfaces
- Slippery/slick/wet walking surfaces
- Improper warnings of hazardous conditions
- Debris, trash, equipment impeding walking surfaces
- Defective elevators, escalators, or staircases
- Understaffing
- Inadequate lighting
- Icy/snowy pedestrian sidewalks, parking lots, or roadways
Contact A Lawyer
If an individual is injured due to a property owner’s negligent behavior, they are likely to be entitled to compensation for medical bills, and loss of wages immediately. It is especially important to reach out to an expert personal injury attorney when filing a lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia, as they are granted additional forms of protection against pending lawsuits. Therefore, with the assistance and counsel of an experienced personal injury lawyer, with an expertise in premises liability cases, individuals can also be entitled to additional reparations for the loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering.
Our experienced team of attorneys believes that they can best serve all Philadelphia slip, trip, and fall accident victims through undying dedication, loyalty, compassion during a victim’s time of need. Our number one goal of service is to provide each client with a winning court verdict or sizable satisfying settlement. In the event that we fail to do so, our lawyers will not receive an attorney fee, as we operate on a contingency-fee basis.
Therefore, clients can feel an increased level of peace of mind throughout the entirety of the legal process, knowing that their attorney has the clients best interest in mind at all times. All victims are encouraged to contact our 24/7 help hotline to schedule a free legal consultation, take the first step towards securing adequate compensation and explore how our team of expert personal injury lawyers can best assist you and your family.