JFK Airport Worker Injury Claims in New York

JFK Airport is owned and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a bi-state public agency. Because the Port Authority is a government entity, injury victims must file a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident before pursuing a lawsuit — a requirement that does not apply to claims against purely private employers or contractors.

Under New York law, anyone seeking to sue the Port Authority of NY & NJ must serve a written Notice of Claim within 90 days of the date of injury. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your right to recover compensation, regardless of how strong your underlying claim is. An attorney should be contacted immediately after any JFK workplace accident.

JFK airport workers may have multiple overlapping claims depending on their employer and job function. Ramp agents, baggage handlers, and ground crew employed by airlines may be covered by New York workers’ compensation. Workers covered under collective bargaining agreements with railroads may have FELA rights. Fuel handlers and certain waterside workers may have maritime or Jones Act protections. Third-party negligence claims against contractors, equipment manufacturers, or the Port Authority may also be available alongside a workers’ comp claim.

Yes. New York workers’ compensation generally bars a direct suit against your employer, but it does not prevent you from filing a third-party personal injury lawsuit against a negligent contractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, or the Port Authority itself (subject to the 90-day Notice of Claim). In serious injury cases, a third-party claim often recovers significantly more than workers’ comp benefits alone.