When a Non-Employee Is Hurt at Worldport or SDF (Louisville): Your Third-Party Claim, Explained

Louisville’s cargo airport is run by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) and anchored by UPS Worldport, one of the busiest air-cargo hubs on the planet. That scale means lots of contractors, vendors, and visitors—and complicated liability when someone who isn’t a UPS employee gets hurt on the airfield, at a ramp gate, or even on perimeter roads.

Who may be liable (beyond your own employer)

• Air carrier (UPS or other Part 121 cargo operator): negligent ramp operations, training, vehicle use, or unsafe procedures.

• Ground-service vendors: tug/belt-loader/fuel/de-ice crews, cargo handlers, security, and maintenance contractors.

• Airport authority or premises managers: unsafe conditions within LRAA-controlled areas (facts and immunity rules matter).

• Manufacturers of ground-support equipment (tugs, loaders) or defective components.

If you’re employed by a vendor, workers’ compensation is typically your remedy against your own employer, but you may still have a separate negligence claim against other at-fault parties (carrier, airport entity, equipment maker, another vendor). That’s the classic third-party claim path.

Common non-employee scenarios

• Delivery driver struck by a tug or belt-loader at a gate: vendor (or carrier) operator fails to yield, no spotter/wing-walker, poor lighting/PPE.

• Vendor technician injured by unsafe marshalling or vehicle crossing lines in a movement/non-movement transition area.

• Motorist on a perimeter road hit by an airport vehicle exiting a gate or by debris from air-side operations.

• Visitor/contractor trip-and-fall due to poorly maintained ramp/apron surfaces or equipment staging.

Evidence moves fast here—lock it down immediately

• Ramp/facility CCTV: retention can be short and split among LRAA cameras and tenant/vendor systems. Send preservation to each custodian.

• ATC audio/radar (if aircraft movement is involved): preserve through the FAA using Order JO 8020.16E procedures; later, NTSB materials may publish in the docket if it’s an accident investigation under 49 C.F.R. Part 831.

• GSE telematics & video: many tugs/loaders run video-telematics (speed, impact g-events, location breadcrumbs). Demand native files + metadata, not just clips.

• Incident reports, radio logs, and training/SOPs: airport driver manuals, vendor SOPs, and carrier manuals frame duties on the ramp.

Recent Louisville coverage underscores Worldport’s scope—~300+ flights/day, ~2 million packages/day, and ~20,000 employees—context that explains why multiple entities may control key evidence.

Workers’ comp vs. third-party negligence (how they fit together)

• If you’re on the job (e.g., a vendor or delivery driver), your workers’ comp pays medical/wage benefits regardless of fault—but it doesn’t bar you from suing other negligent parties (not your employer) for full tort damages (pain/suffering, full wage loss, etc.).

• If you’re a visitor/motorist, you generally pursue a standard negligence claim against the responsible entity.

• Expect lien/offset coordination between comp benefits and any civil recovery.

What damages you can pursue

• Medical bills and future care,

• Lost wages/benefits and, if limits persist, diminished earning capacity,

• Pain and suffering; loss of consortium where applicable,

• Wrongful death damages if a family member was killed (estate vs. beneficiary distribution depends on claim type).

Quick checklist after an injury at Worldport/SDF

1. Medical first, then document where on the airfield or perimeter the incident occurred.

2. Report to the correct authority (airport police/ops) and request the incident number.

3. Photograph vehicles, gate numbers, boundary markings, lighting, and badge/vehicle IDs for any vendor or carrier unit involved.

4. Send multi-custodian preservation (airport authority, carrier, each vendor) for CCTV, GSE telematics, radio logs, and incident files.

5. Track potential federal records: ATC audio/radar via FAA; if NTSB opens a case, watch for the public docket.

Why local knowledge matters in Louisville

Understanding how LRAA governs SDF and how UPS Worldport and its vendors operate helps identify the right defendants and the right data sources fast—before short-cycle systems overwrite critical footage or logs.

How Morrin Law Office helps

• Identify every liable party (carrier, vendor, airport entity, manufacturer) and the correct venue.

• Lock down short-retention data from multiple custodians (airport, carrier, vendors).

• Coordinate comp + third-party claims to maximize net recovery.

• Integrate FAA/NTSB records where applicable to prove standards and causation.

If you were hurt at Worldport or SDF and you’re not a UPS employee, you still have options—often strong ones.

References & Further Reading

• Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) — ownership/governance of SDF/LOU. flylouisville.com

• SDF cargo ranking (ACI World) — SDF Top-5 globally / #3 in North America (2024–2025). flylouisville.com

• UPS Worldport scale (flights/day, employment, throughput) — recent reporting on 300+ flights/day, ~2M packages/day, ~20,000 employees. AP News

• NTSB investigations — 49 C.F.R. Part 831 (investigation procedures; public docket). eCFR

• FAA accident/incident coordination — FAA Order JO 8020.16E (ATC notification, investigation, reporting). Federal Aviation Administration

• Airport ground-vehicle training — FAA AC 150/5210-20A (Ground Vehicle Operations). Federal Aviation Administration

• Aircraft ground handling & marshalling — FAA AC 00-34B. Federal Aviation Administration

• High-visibility PPE on ramps — ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 quick reference. 3M Multimedia

• GSE telematics/video in airport ops — industry case studies (e.g., Samsara/Swissport) and overviews of AI+telematics for ground ops. samsara.com

• KY workers’ comp & third-party claims — KRS 342.700 (third-party liability, subrogation; no waivers). Legislative Research Commission