Plane Crash Lawyers Blog

Preventing Plane Crashes: U.S. Aviation Regulatory Organizations

2011-03-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is an organization dedicated to providing “the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.”

The FAA provides guidelines for aircraft registration, regulations and policy, aircraft safety alerts, information on airports including status and delays, and accident and incident data. They created the Aviation Safety Action Program to “enhance aviation safety through the prevention of accidents and incidents.”

The FAA also collects data on U.S. plane crashes, including audio of the plane and air traffic control tower communications leading up to the plane crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is a federal agency that promotes safety by investigating and determining the causes of aviation accidents, including plane crashes. From the data the organization collects, the NTSB then makes safety recommendations to federal, state and local governments, the industry, and other organizations that are in the position to enhance aviation safety.

The NTSB website includes resources for people who are victims of transportation accidents, including a brochure, “Information for Family and Friends: General Aviation Accident Investigations.” This brochure includes information such as the type of information accident victims can obtain from the NTSB, how a plane crash will be investigated, and provides contact information for victims who need further assistance.

While understanding the cause of the crash you were in is important, the NTSB can take a long time to determine the cause. In the meantime, if you were injured, you may be facing mounting medical bills and the trauma of your injuries may affect your income. If you lost a family member in the plane crash, you are having to deal with the loss of companionship, and struggling with funeral expenses.

The NTSB cannot provide the support or legal advice a seasoned plane crash lawyer can give you. Please contact an experienced plane crash lawyer in your area to learn more about your legal rights after you or a loved one were the victim of a plane crash.

Plane Crashes and Other Aviation Accidents

2011-02-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

Plane crashes are not common, but when they do occur the victims need an advocate. Aviation accident attorneys provide this service and ensure the legal rights of plane accident victims are protected.

The most common causes of plane crashes are mechanical failure, pilot error, FAA regulations violations, design problems and air traffic controller error. Accidents caused by any of these factors can result in serious injury or death.

There are different types of aviation accidents and not all involve planes. Aviation accidents are those involving commercial planes, private planes, private helicopters, emergency medical service helicopters and air ambulances, and military helicopters and planes. Each type of accident involves different types of organizations and different laws.

For example, a different regulatory entity investigates commercial accidents than the organization that investigates military accidents. Or, in the case of military plane crashes, personnel will often bring a lawsuit against the manufacturer since they are often very limited in the lawsuits they can bring against the government. However, in the case of an accident involving a private or commercial plane, the victims will most often want to file a lawsuit against the plane’s owner or operator.

Because the law is so complex and differs so greatly case by case, if you are a plane crash victim you will want assistance in determining your options. An experienced plane crash lawyer can help you identify the liable party or parties for the crash you or your loved one were in.

To find a knowledgeable plane crash lawyer in your area, please visit Plane Crash Lawyers Network online to learn more about your legal rights and avenues for obtaining compensation.

Commercial Airline Accidents

2011-01-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

Commercial airlines represent approximately 90%of the air traffic in the United States. Commercial airlines are touted as the safest way to travel long distances, since plane crashes happen much less frequently than car crashes. Plus, they offer a much quicker and more convenient way to travel long distances.

Flying on a commercial airline can be nerve wracking when you consider that you are putting your life in the hands of someone else. Once the plane begins takeoff, you are at the mercy of the pilot’s expertise and judgment.

Pilots are required to go through extensive training and most are very good at their job. However, sometimes commercial airline pilots are negligent in their duties and that negligence can lead to serious injury or death for their passengers. Some of the more frequent negligent acts committed by airline pilots include:

• Being too tired to safely fly a plane
• Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Being distracted by other people in the cockpit
• Operator error

The pilot is not the only individual in charge of your wellbeing when you choose to travel on a commercial plane. Technicians who assess the plane for safety, employees who repair problems with the plane and air traffic controllers all can determine the outcome of the flight.

In some instances, errors can occur during the manufacture of the components for the aircraft. The design or structure of the plane could have problems and end in disaster for passengers. Even bad weather can cause a plane to go down.

If you were in a commercial plane crash, or someone you loved was killed in a commercial plane crash, please contact an experienced plane crash lawyer in your area to learn more about your options.

Losing a Loved One in a Plane Crash

2010-12-02T12:55:00.001-07:00

Has someone you love been killed in a plane crash? If so, then you may be able to seek compensation through filing a wrongful death claim.

There are several basic requirements your case must have in order to qualify as a plane crash wrongful death lawsuit:

1. Someone must have died as the result of a plane accident.

2. You have a familial relationship to the person who died. While you may love your best friend very much, unfortunately, in many states the law only permits their relatives to file a wrongful death claim for their loss.

3. You must believe that others are wholly or partially liable for the death of your loved one.

4. You must be able to prove in a court of law that the party or parties you believe to be liable were negligent before, during or after the plane crash that led to the death of your loved one.

5. The negligent actions of the party or parties made them liable, or responsible for the death.

6. The negligence directly resulted in the death of your loved one, and in turn led to the damages sustained by you.

Different states have different laws for compensation in wrongful death lawsuits. Compensation may include loss of companionship, loss of parental support for children, loss of finances, reimbursement for medical bills and funeral expenses.

Keep in mind that filing a wrongful death lawsuit will not bring back the person you lost. The point of the lawsuit is to compensate you for your loss.

If you lost a loved one in a plane crash, please contact an experienced plane crash attorney near you to learn more about your legal options.

Small Plane Crashes

2010-11-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

Small plane crashes are a more frequent occurrence than commercial plane crashes. In fact, it’s likely that most of us have had a favorite celebrity die in a small plane crash. Small plane crashes tragically claimed the lives of famed stars such as Richie Valens and Buddy Holly, Aaliyah, John Denver, and John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Besset-Kennedy.

Despite small planes having a shaky reputation regarding safety, they remain a relatively cheap way to travel long distances quickly. There are rules and regulations in place to ensure flying in a small plane is as safe as possible, but sometimes a storm can’t be predicted or an engine problem isn’t detected until it’s too late.

While we hear about the many celebrities who died in small plane crashes, and we occasionally read about deadly small plane crashes in the news, not every crash involving a small plane results in fatality to all passengers.

In July 2010, a father and daughter walked away from a small plane crash in Rocky Mountain National Park. Several years ago, former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens survived a small plane crash that killed his wife. Fortunately, four other people also survived the crash, including former NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe and his son. They sustained injuries including broken bones, but none that were life-threatening.

If you are a small plane crash survivor who was injured in the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. If you have suffered the tragedy of losing a family member to a small plane crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss. Consulting an experienced plane accident attorney can help you understand your options.

Please contact an experienced plane crash attorney in your area to learn if you have a case that entitles you to compensation for your trauma.

Fear of Plane Crashes

2010-11-29T15:02:00.001-07:00

If you have a fear of flying because you think you will be hurt in a plane crash, here are some facts that may alleviate some of your anxiety.

You have a greater chance of being killed in a car accident on the way to the airport than on a plane. In fact, you are more likely to die in a car wreck on your way to work than on a plane. Keep in mind those facts are supposed to make you feel better about flying, rather than make you scared to get in your car the next time you need to go somewhere.

Organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration put strict aviation laws and regulations in place to protect people who are putting their lives in the hands of an airline and a pilot. Think about it. People fly all day everyday all over the globe, yet how often do you read about fatal plane crashes in the news? Not often enough to be too scared to go on a great vacation over Christmas that requires you getting on an airplane.

It is important to remember that as technology gets better, so does safety. Plus, airline pilots go through extensive training before they are licensed to fly a commercial aircraft. Part of that training includes pre-flight checks of the entire plane to be sure the landing gear, engines and other mechanical parts are functioning properly before takeoff.

It is in the best interest of the airline to ensure its planes are safe. If an airline becomes known for plane crashes, no one will fly with them and they will lose money. Further, they will likely have to pay compensation to survivors and to relatives of people who died in the crashes, which will also cost them money. It is easier and cheaper for airline companies to maintain a good reputation and comply with safety standards.

If your fear is based on past experience in a plane crash, or if you’ve lost a loved one in a plane crash, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact an experienced plane crash lawyer in your area to learn more about your options.

Pilot Error and Aviation Accidents

2010-09-26T15:06:00.000-06:00

"Pilot error" is a term used to describe the cause of an aviation accident that can be traced back to the pilots' failure to exercise due diligence. If an aviation accident occurs and it is attributed to pilot error, it means the accident could have been avoided. Pilot error can also be an oversight or lapse of judgment.

The most common cause of aviation accidents is usually pilot error placed at 53%. Increasingly, it appears the cause of fatal aviation accidents worldwide is considered to be pilot error, raising disturbing questions regarding pilot training and cockpit design.

The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the most recent incident of pilot error that fortunately did not end in tragedy, when a Northwest Airlines flight to Minneapolis, Minnesota from San Diego, California, overshot its destination by 150 miles.

First reports were that the flight crew was asleep at the wheel, but the pilots have denied those reports. The pilots have stated they were engaged in a heated discussion and were distracted from their task. Meanwhile, 147 people flying from San Diego to Minneapolis were unaware of their ordeal until the plane finally landed and was surrounded by police and airport authorities. The pilots were suspended until an investigation into the incident is completed.

If you or someone you love was injured or killed in an aviation accident, please contact an aviation accident attorney in your area today and learn how to proceed with your attempt to obtain the financial compensation you deserve.

Aviation Accident Statistics

2010-08-26T15:03:00.000-06:00

Statistics show that in the past decade there were 50 fatal aviation accidents caused by pilot error, 12 fatal aviation accidents caused by weather and 22 caused by mechanical failure. Sabotage was responsible for 9 fatal aviation accidents since the year 2000 until now.

The chances of being involved in a plane crash are 1 in 11 million. The chances of being killed in a car accident driving to the airport are 1 in 5,000. Although statistically speaking flying is considered to be one of the safest modes of travel, there are uncontrollable factors that can turn a routine flight into your worst nightmare.

Statistics gathered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) indicate that since 2005 there have been 46 major aviation accidents that killed or injured at least 450 people. Statistics further reveal that 37% of aviation accidents are caused by pilot error, 33% by undetermined causes, 13% by mechanical failure, 7% are weather related, 5% by sabotage such as hijackings or bombings, 4% other human error and 1% other causes.

If you were injured in a plane crash or you lost someone you love in an aviation accident, please contact an experienced aviation accident attorney in your area today to protect your legal rights and learn if you are entitled to financial compensation for your injuries or loss.

Air Traffic Controlling

2010-07-26T15:01:00.000-06:00

Almost all air traffic controllers are employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) a Federal agency. Air traffic controllers are well paid and have good benefits, but the job is mentally stressful and can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Air traffic controllers have a high risk of hypertension that is related to the high level of stress they experience on the job. In one hour of controlling air traffic, a controller is responsible for the lives of more people and equipment than the average person is during their entire lifetime. While air traffic controllers save lives every day by avoiding aviation accidents, their own lives may not be so safe.

Air traffic control is a huge network of people and equipment that has the job of ensuring the safety of all commercial and private aircraft. Though the immediate concern of air traffic controllers is safety, they must also direct planes efficiently to minimize travel delays.

Relying on radar and visual observation, air traffic controllers monitor every plane to ensure a safe distance between all aircraft and keep pilots informed about changes in weather conditions that can cause a pilot a problem in controlling the aircraft.

During peak travel times, controllers must work quickly and efficiently in semi-darkness, never actually seeing the aircraft except as a tiny blip on a screen.
If you have been the victim of an aviation accident or lost someone you love because of a plane crash, please contact an aviation accident attorney in your area today to learn how to proceed to protect your legal rights and the rights of those you care about.

The Most Infamous Plane Crashes in History

2010-06-26T14:53:00.000-06:00

The most infamous aviation disaster in history has to be the September 11, 2001 intentional crashing of jet planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania by Islamic terrorists that killed almost 3,000 innocent people.

Other infamous plane crashes have to include the March, 1977 crash in the Canary, Islands that killed 583 people when two jets collided on a runway, the 1985 crash of a Japan Air Lines jet into a mountain that took 520 lives and the mid-air collision of two passenger jets over India that killed 349 people in 1996.

Common causes of aviation accidents include pilot error or negligence, engine failure, aircraft structural defects, runway incursions, faulty equipment, adverse weather conditions and faulty maintenance.

Determining the cause of a plane accident is a difficult, painstaking and time-consuming endeavor. The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) is the Federal agency charged with investigating the cause of a plane crash and are on the scene of each and every aviation accident quickly and start their investigation immediately. One of the most critical duties of the NTSB investigative team is to locate and preserve the airplanes’ "black boxes," a flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.

If you or a loved one was the victim of an aviation accident, please contact an aviation accident attorney in your area who is trained to preserve and acquire all data relative to a plane crash, retain expert consultants and to protect your legal rights in the pursuit of justice.

Resources for Victims of a Plane Crash

2010-05-01T14:50:00.000-06:00

Aviation accidents are not common events, but there are survivors of plane crashes dealing with physical, psychological and emotional wounds. The chances of being in a plane crash are one in six million, but survivors face a variety of medical, mental and emotional challenges during their recovery from such a life-altering event.

There are many organizations ready to reach out and assist plane crash survivors or plane crash victims’ families through the legal chaos and emotional trauma that follows such a tragedy. The legal, financial, insurance and emotional issues that confront a survivor of a plane crash or the family of a victim of a plane crash are not insurmountable with the assistance of an individual with knowledge and experience.

The physical and psychological scars that are left behind after an aviation accident affect both survivors and their families. An excellent resource available to survivors of a plane crash and their families is the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or the National Air Disaster Alliance Foundation, and the American Red Cross.

An experienced aviation accident attorney can assist you in dealing with the legal issues that arise from the aftermath of a plane crash as you may be eligible for financial compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering or wrongful death.
If you have been the victim of a plane crash and survived, or lost a family member in a plane crash, please contact an experienced plane crash attorney in your area today.

What is the National Transportation and Safety Board?

2010-03-11T15:46:00.002-07:00

The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent Federal agency that investigates every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents involving other types of transportation such as railroad accidents, highway crashes and accidents involving ships. The NTSB investigates accidents and conducts safety studies, and in an effort to prevent accidents, reduce injuries and save lives, the NTSB also develops safety recommendations.

The National Transportation and Safety Board usually takes the lead in the investigation of an accident. The investigation of an accident typically begins with the creation of a "go team", composed of experts in areas relating to the accident and the core of investigation for the NTSB.

The purpose of the so-called "go team" is to begin the investigation as quickly as possible after assembling their experts to solve the complex task at hand. "Go team" members must be available 24 hours a day by phone or pager. After investigating the accident, the NTSB issues a final statement regarding the accident and may then issue safety recommendations based on their findings.

If you have lost someone in an aviation accident or you have been injured and survived an aviation incident, please contact an aviation accident attorney in your area today as you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries or loss.

What is the Federal Aviation Administration?

2010-02-09T13:16:00.001-07:00

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a United States government agency that is responsible for the safety of civil aviation.

The FAA ensures the safety of millions of people across the country that travel by plane by regulating the air transportation industry and maintaining a nationwide network of air traffic control systems. Over 47,000 people are employed by the FAA with over 32,000 a part of the administrations air traffic organization.

In addition to regulating the civil aviation industry and maintaining air traffic control, the Federal Aviation Administration develops new aviation technologies, creates resources to regulate noise and other effects of air travel. The FAA attempts to accomplish its goals through airspace management, regulations and licensing and research and development. To improve air travel safety and security the FAA is working along with other agencies in upgrading the air traffic management system with advanced satellite technology to improve air management control.

The main mission of the FAA is to ensure aircraft are safe to fly, that pilots and flight crews are highly trained and qualified, that airplane mechanics are experts in their field and that the people and technology that regulate the flow of air traffic do so safely.

If you have been involved in a plane crash or lost someone you love in an aviation accident, please contact an experienced aviation accident attorney in your area today.

Wrongful Death and Aviation Accidents

2010-01-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

When an aviation accident occurs, the victims suffer severe physical and emotional personal injury or wrongful death. A wrongful death is a death that occurs due to the negligence or actions of another individual.

Airplane and helicopter travel are considered to be necessities of modern life. Daily commutes by plane or helicopter are often a requirement for businesses seeking speed and convenience in a competitive world and are often taken for granted as aviation accidents are rare.

Aircraft are complex machines full of highly advanced engines, navigation and communication systems, air pressure and landing gear systems and de-icing systems. All this technology must be flawlessly designed, manufactured to the highest specifications, scrupulously maintained and professionally operated to ensure the safety of the flying public.

When an aircraft has a defective design, flawed manufacturing or negligent operation and maintenance issues, the result could be an aviation disaster causing serious personal injury and wrongful death.

An experienced aviation accident attorney concentrates their practice of law in personal injury and wrongful death litigation involving plane crashes. They will investigate the facts, assess your claim, determine who is to be held legally responsible, organize the complex details of your claim and pursue your claim vigorously in settlement negotiations or at trial.

Please contact an experienced aviation accident attorney in your area today who is ready to assist you and your loves ones in the event of an aviation accident.

Why Do I Need an Aviation Accident Attorney?

2009-12-22T13:51:00.001-07:00

If you survive an aviation accident, you must be concerned about protecting your future health and future interests. If you lost a loved one in an aviation accident, you have different concerns that must be addressed, but also concern your future interests.

An unpleasant fact of life is that accidents happen and human beings suffer and die. Knowing accidents happen does not mean you have to give up your legal rights, especially if the accident resulted from an act of negligence, flawed design or pilot error.

Most aviation accidents occur due to pilot error or mechanical failure and you may be entitled to financial compensation because of these facts. It is important to have expert legal advice in case of involvement in an aviation accident so you do not make the mistake of signing anything the airline wants you to sign without first obtaining legal counsel.

Passengers who are injured in an aviation accident may be compensated for their injuries and may be eligible for payment of present and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earning potential and pain and suffering. In the case of a death, the survivors are entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering and the loss of their financial and emotional support.

If you have been injured in a plane crash or a loved one has died in an aviation accident, please contact an experienced aviation accident attorney in your area today.

Causes of Aviation Accidents

2009-11-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Aviation accidents that do not lead to serious injuries and death are very rare and have a special place in history like the "Miracle on the Hudson" incident when a passenger jet was safely landed in the Hudson River in New York City after a bird strike and all aboard were rescued without injury.

Though air travel is considered to be one of the safest ways to travel, there are risks involved in flying. Major factors in aviation accidents are human error and mechanical failure, such as pilot or air traffic controller errors, design or structural flaws in the aircraft or maintenance failures.

Pilot error is responsible for plane accidents 53% of the time, while another individual, such as maintenance, fueling or loading personnel are responsible for accidents 8% of the time. Hazardous weather conditions like icing and wind shear also contribute to the incidence of aviation accidents.

The majority of aviation accidents occur at a relatively low height, either before, during or after take-off and landing with far fewer accidents occurring in mid-flight. There are complex issues involved in the determination of the cause of an aviation accident.

If you have lost someone in an aviation accident you may be entitled to financial compensation for your loss. Please contact an aviation accident attorney in your area today to schedule a confidential consultation to learn how to proceed.

Burden of Proof and How it Relates to an Aviation Accident

2009-10-27T08:15:00.000-06:00

Burden of proof simply refers to someone having the responsibility of proving a disputed allegation. Aviation accident law deals with tragic and complex circumstances and issues. It takes time and expertise to determine the causes and liabilities after an aviation accident.

An aviation accident attorney must establish the burden of proof that exists when a plane crashes due to pilot error, a design fault or other dangerous occurrence.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets safety standards relating to pilot conduct, flight operations and aircraft manufacture in an attempt to make air travel safer. Violations of FAA safety standards and regulations endanger the safety of passengers and flight crews. Poorly trained pilots, faulty equipment and poor maintenance practices make the probability of aviation accidents and liability claims due to those accidents, increase.

If you have been the victim of an aviation accident, an expert aviation accident attorney will be able to determine if you are entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. In the event of the loss of a loved one, you may be eligible for payment of funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial and emotional support, and in some cases, punitive damages.

If you suffered a serious injury or lost someone you love in a plane crash, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Please contact an experienced plane crash lawyer in your area today.

Officials Urge End to Touring Helicopter Flights

2009-10-14T09:01:00.001-06:00

As you may remember, a touring helicopter collided with a plane in mid-air and crashed into the Hudson River off Hoboken, New Jersey in August. Nine people died in the plane accident, and since that horrific tragedy, elected officials in the New York/New Jersey area have been insisting on an end to the practice of taking tourists on helicopter sight-seeing trips in and around the New York City area.

The particular helicopter port involved in this aviation accident has also come under fire from neighbors due to engine fumes and the noise. Local congressman and councilmen have demanded that the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) strictly regulate New York’s crowded airspace. At the current time, the FAA allows private planes and helicopters to fly through crowded areas, and the pilots must depend on their own sight and communication with other pilots to avoid collisions. This particular collision in August 2009 occurred at 1,100 feet, which is a mere 12 inches below the ceiling at which the FAA controls the airspace.

Another demand being made is that all aircraft be required to submit a flight plan, and the group wants all flights below 1,100 banned altogether until radar systems can be installed to track the aircraft. The group also feels the Hudson River area should be closed to all non-emergency helicopters to help prevent tragedies such as the one a few months ago.

If you have lost a loved one in an aviation accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact an experienced aviation accident attorney in your area today to schedule a confidential consultation.

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2009-10-08T12:31:00.001-06:00

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