Plane Crash Lawyers Network

Dealing with an Aviation Accident

Aviation accidents are almost always traumatic events that leave behind a great deal of death and destruction. Very few people have been in plane crashes and have lived to tell their story. Many personal injury claims follow aviation accidents because often, after years of investigating the crash, it is discovered that a part was defective or that the pilot erred in some way. Though everyone is suffering, even the pilot’s family perhaps, it’s crucial to find out what caused the crash and what could have been done to prevent it.

The causes of aviation accidents are complex and numerous, but an experienced aviation accident attorney can use his/her knowledge of past cases to do some early investigation into the cause of the crash that took your loved one’s life.

Aviation accident law covers both major air carrier and general aviation accidents.The single-engine turboprop plane that went down in Butte, Montana killing 14 on Sunday, March 22, 2009, is just one example of a general aviation accident.

General aviation includes non-commercial aircraft, such as:

• Small planes
• Large jets
• Charter flights
• Helicopters
• Hang gliders

Aviation Lawsuits

Losing a loved one in an aviation accident can be unbearable. It’s hard to imagine that even while you battle the loss, you may have to also fight with petty insurance companies.

It can be very difficult (and can take years) to determine liability in these cases. Some of the damages to which you may be entitled include:

• Medical expenses
• Funeral expenses
• Loss of consortium
• Lost wages
• Wrongful death
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages may be sought in some cases

Determining the cause of an aviation accident can take several months or even several years, especially when a large jetliner goes down. Smaller single-engine plane crashes, such as the one in Butte, Montana may not take quite as long, and information may be released in just a few months. The victims, regardless of how long it takes to determine cause, are forced to just wait and wait while they grieve. But you can take action. You can get an experienced attorney on your side who has handled aviation accident cases and is familiar with all of the complex aspects of aviation law.

Some of the most common causes of aviation accidents include:

• Pilot error/bad judgment (flying in poor weather conditions)
• Mechanical error
• Faulty equipment
• FAA violations
• Design problems
• Negligent air traffic controllers
• Negligent flight service station employees