Passengers Can Sue Airlines Over Blood Clots

Filed in archive Aviation Travel on October 18, 2007

I take about five international flights per year. I'm not afraid of flying, or crashing. I'm afraid of deep vein thrombosis.

I love the window seat. And because of that, I feel guilty asking the entire row to move every time I need to go to the restroom. So, most of the time I hold it. On domestic flights, this is probably not bad since those flights are a few hours long. But, on the international ones, I know this is not good.

However, according to an article on MSNBC, air passengers can sue international airlines over blood clots. Previous, 37 lawsuits were either dismissed or tossed out, because of an international treaty protecting airlines from paying damages to passengers who are injured on a flight.

But Walker said the three remaining lawsuits claiming deep vein thrombosis could proceed because they allege injuries that could have been prevented if the airlines - Singapore, U.S. Airways and Delta - let passengers complaining of pain switch to open seats with more leg room.

Walker on Friday also dismissed 14 other lawsuits against domestic airlines not bound by the international treaty. An appeals court has ordered him to separately reconsider whether the airlines are providing enough seating space or would raise fares if forced to remove seats to make cabins roomier.