LaGuardia Airport Worker Injury Claims in NY

LaGuardia Airport is owned and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a bi-state public authority. This is critical because injury claims against the Port Authority require filing a formal Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident — miss that deadline and you may forfeit your right to sue entirely, regardless of how serious your injuries are.

Yes. Workers’ compensation covers your medical bills and a portion of lost wages, but it bars you from suing your direct employer. However, if a third party — such as a contractor, equipment manufacturer, airline, or the Port Authority itself — contributed to your injury, you can pursue a separate personal injury lawsuit for full damages including pain and suffering, which workers’ comp does not cover.

Airport ground workers at LGA face significant hazards: baggage handlers suffer back and shoulder injuries from repetitive lifting; ramp agents are struck by aircraft, vehicles, or jet blast; fueling crews face chemical and fire exposure; and construction and maintenance workers deal with falls, electrical hazards, and heavy equipment accidents. Federal OSHA standards apply to most of these workers, and Port Authority safety failures can create separate liability.

The Notice of Claim against the Port Authority must be filed within 90 days of your injury. After that, the statute of limitations to file the actual lawsuit is generally one year and 90 days for claims against the Port Authority — shorter than the standard three-year personal injury deadline in New York. Because these deadlines are strict and easy to miss, contacting an attorney as soon as possible after an LGA workplace injury is essential.