Aircraft today are probably the safest form of travel when compared to road transportation. Rarely do you hear of a devastating plane crash whether large or small. However, this doesn’t mean there are never any accidents either near the aircraft or inside it. There are many hazards pilots have to deal with everyday and if a pilot is injured the Allied Pilots Association supports the right of the employee to submit a claim for workers’ comp. This is a right for most workers in the USA whether the accident was caused by the employer or employee. Allied Pilots Association The Allied Pilots Association (APA) represents pilots who work for American Airlines. It was first initiated in 1963 by some American Airlines pilots who chose to disassociate themselves from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). The 5 pilots were Paul Atkins, Nick O'Connell, Joe Garvey, Bob Guba and Dick Lyons. They were consequently banned for life from the ALPA. The first headquarters of the APA was in New York City and later it relocated to Fort Worth, Texas. APA like most labor organizations offers numerous services to its members. It keeps the U.S. Congress and other government agencies informed about airline pilot’s concerns. It uses 20 percent of pilot’s dues to support and encourage better aviation safety. Becoming a member of APA is completely voluntary but members pay 1 percent of their salary each month through a deduction from pay. Workplace Injuries Suffered by APA Members The sorts of injuries that could happen to airline pilots are: Repetitive stress injuries from the inability to exercise for hours at a time Fractures and breakages of limbs when slipping and falling when boarding the plane Whiplash experienced when a sudden lurch occurs while in the air. Here's a little more information on what you should do if you were injured while working at an airport. What to Do If You Have Been Hurt On the Job It doesn’t matter what your job is there is still a process to follow if you have been injured while at work. The first thing you need to do is ensure you get the treatment you need for your injuries. Following that you should inform your immediate supervisor who will have to find someone to stand in and do your job while you are off work. Once these two tasks have been completed then you have to focus on submitting a claim for workers’ comp. The APA can help you do this. You will need to get witnesses’ testimonies to prove the injury took place while you were at work. This is vital as often insurers try to claim that your injury or sickness was not work related and therefore isn’t covered by workers’ comp. You will also need a comprehensive medical report from your physician who will include what you have paid already for treatment and what the likely costs are into the future. Preferably you should now contact a workers’ compensation attorney who will know how to present your claim. Why Contact an Attorney? Workers’ comp. attorneys know exactly what an insurer wants to see and will ensure all the documentation is complete. If you try to act on your own the common thing an insurer does is offer you a lump sum in the hope that it appears larger enough to look attractive enough to accept without further questions. Lump sums often are not calculated for any long periods you may need to take off work and you may find that this typically results in financial hardship.
