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While commercial aviation maintains an exemplary safety record, when any sort of air travel accidents happen, there can be severe and catastrophic results. This is terrifying, given that the National Safety Council reports that accident rates for general aviation — which excludes commercial air traffic — have been increasing.
If you have been the victim of an aviation accident as a passenger on a commercial flight, private plane, or helicopter, you will likely have enormous damages. If a loved one passed away in an aviation accident, you might also be representing their wrongful death case.
Either way, you can file a claim seeking all damages from all negligent parties, but you must be prepared to demonstrate negligence and provide sufficient evidence to back your claim.
Ali Awad, the CEO Lawyer, can help you seek to recover all of the damages you have suffered as a result of your aviation accident.
Personal injury lawyers are important in helping you determine your losses from an accident and recover compensation from the at-fault party — allowing you to spend time healing from the traumatic experience and recuperating from the personal injuries you have suffered.
The CEO Lawyer can help answer your questions in a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. Our attorneys will review your case, identify potential parties responsible for the accident, and avoid mistakes that could hurt your claim.
Schedule your free appointment with an aviation accident lawyer near you when you use the convenient contact form located on this page.
When Should I Contact an Aviation Accident Attorney?
It can be difficult to prove the liability in an aviation accident. The best plan is to have an attorney that knows the particulars of aviation litigation submit your claim and fight for your rights to recoup damages and losses for your personal injuries.
Working with an aviation accident attorney can give you the most promising chance of a favorable outcome. If you have been in an aviation accident, we recommend that you contact a lawyer to discuss your claim as soon as possible.
Whether you are just starting to seek compensation as an accident victim or you are in the middle of your claims process, it is never too late to seek the aid of a professional lawyer and get the representation you need.
Benefits of Working With the CEO Lawyer
Ali Awad, the CEO Lawyer, has the determination needed to represent your case and develop a strong legal strategy, so you can seek the highest amount of compensation possible.
The CEO Lawyer will enlist investigators, assistants, and other specialists to collect accident reports, speak with witnesses to your accident, and put together a plan to win your claim.
While you focus on your physical recovery, the CEO Lawyer will remain committed to fighting for the compensation that you deserve.
Benefits of legal representation from The CEO Lawyer include:
- Accurately evaluate the damages you have suffered, past and present
- Representation when negotiating and presenting evidence to insurers
- Assistance with finding immediate medical care at no up-front cost and other services to help your family recover after your tragic accident
- Extensive resources leveraged to uncover all available evidence
- Tireless legal representation asserting your rights to recover damages from all liable parties
- Trial experience, giving your case a high chance of success should it proceed to a lawsuit and jury trial
- Care and compassion helping you make it through every step in the legal process, no matter where you are now
What Types of Aircraft Might Be Involved in an Aviation Accident?
There are two primary categories for aviation, General Aviation and Commercial Aviation.
General aviation encompasses a broad category of non-commercial aircraft, from helicopters to private jets to prop planes.
These categories are generally defined as:
- General Aviation: The Smithsonian Institute defines general aviation as civilian, non-commercial-carrier flights, including flights that involve sports aviation, business travel, humanitarian aid, agriculture, environmental conservation, medical evacuation and organ transfer, pilot training, and bush flying. The general aviation category encompasses the majority of aviation accidents.
- Commercial Aviation: Includes commercially scheduled airlines transporting passengers, cargo, or mail. Accidents occur less frequently in this category.
Aircraft accidents can involve passengers and crew of the aircraft, in addition to anyone who was affected by the accident on the ground or in another affected aircraft.
Because of the reduced training and licensing requirements as well as looser aviation rules and regulations, general aviation accidents are more common than accidents involving commercial carriers.
General Aviation covers a broad category of non-commercial-carrier aircraft, typically smaller than commercial passenger aircraft, including but not limited to
- Private Planes and Jets
- Helicopters
- Agricultural Aviation
- Aerial Firefighting
- Air Tourism and Air Sports
- Search and Rescue and Medical Evacuation
- Business and Corporate Aviation
While accidents in Commercial Aviation (i.e. major airline accidents) are not as common, they can have catastrophic results, severe injuries, and a high number of fatalities due to commercial airlines’ sheer size and the number of passengers.
Although statistics vary year to year, Airlines for America lists the safety records of U.S. Carriers and reports that the number of commercial aviation aircraft involved in accidents over the past 20 years has dropped by more than 50%.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Aviation Accidents?
Compiling the data to determine the reason for the plane crash can be lengthy and take a considerable amount of time for each investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is responsible for investigating every civil aviation accident in the U.S., in addition to major accidents in other modes of transportation, including trains, transit, highway, pipeline, hazardous materials, marine, and commercial space.
They also conduct safety research, and their website reports a monthly list of aviation accidents.
With respect to what causes aircraft accidents, data from the NTSB and others shows numerous factors can contribute to an aircraft accident, potentially involving one or more of these common elements:
- Pilot or Aircraft Crew Error
- Mechanical Malfunction
- Air Traffic Controller Error
- Erratic Weather Conditions
- Instrument Failure
- Aircraft Defects
Research shows that the overwhelming majority of plane accidents happen on the runway: during take-off or landing, which can lead to serious injuries and fatalities. More accidents occur during landing than happen during take-off, making it the more hazardous of the two.
When landing an aircraft, the pilot has manual control, and it requires exacting precision, which can be challenging with high winds, in stormy weather, or wet and icy runway conditions, Even the smallest of mistakes can have enormous consequences.
According to the International Air Transport Association, commercial air travel is still the world’s safest long-distance travel method. However, with each accident, there can be a staggering number of fatalities, and the industry recognizes there is always room for improvement.
The International Civil Aviation Organization has a Global Aviation Safety Plan to ensure that aircraft safety records continually improve.
What Are the Most Common Aviation Accident Injuries?
If you were hurt on a plane, the range of injuries can be extreme.
From fatal plane crashes, where the victim’s families are left with the devastating loss of their loved ones, to what might be considered minor incidents, there’s no doubt that aviation accidents can cause critical injuries to innocent victims.
Some of the common types of injuries airplane accident victims face are
- Multiple Bone fractures are some of the most common injuries due to the force of impact and sometimes in-flight turbulence.
- Burns from a fire erupting in the aircraft can cause burn scarring that requires multiple cosmetic surgeries.
- Traumatic brain injuries are some of the most common injuries in plane crashes. Head injuries can lead to lifelong cognitive impairment
- Spinal Cord Injuries affect mobility and impair sensation or cause paralysis. They require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation
These types of acute injuries necessitate years of professional medical treatment and therapeutic care with an outcome that is not guaranteed.
The results of any aviation incident, no matter how small, have the potential to impact the essential well-being of the victim, affecting the victim’s family members and leading to a diminished quality of life — and a future that is no longer certain.
The high risk for serious debilitation and negative effects on one’s life is why hiring an aviation accident attorney can be so important.
Their skills and resources can help victims and their families seek to secure all applicable damages, helping them move back to normal after their unfortunate event.
Who Is Liable in an Aviation Accident?
Depending on the specifics of the accident, it can be difficult to determine who is liable in an aviation accident. Identifying negligent parties frequently requires considerable investigation, which may conclude it is more than one person or agency that is responsible.
Because of the potential for aviation accident claims to require seeking compensation for personal injuries and damages from multiple sources, they can often involve complex litigation and a lengthy recovery process.
Based on a history of past aviation accident cases, the parties that are most likely to be liable include:
- The pilot
- The airline
- The aircraft manufacturer
- The owner of the plane
- The insurance company
- Air traffic controllers
- Aircraft maintenance companies
- Airports and aircraft storage facilities
- Any other crew or third parties involved who contributed negligence
What Types of Damages Can Be Recovered from an Aviation Accident?
If you have survived an aviation accident — or a family member has been the victim of a wrongful death — you are entitled to seek compensation for damages incurred.
The damages you can recover depend on the specifics of your accident and claim and the severity of your injuries, pain, and suffering. Damages may include:
- Medical Expenses — Past, present, and future as applicable. This category encompasses all of the medical treatments that you require, including doctor visits and procedures, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and at-home modifications.
- Economic Loss — Lost wages, past, present, and future, including if your injuries impact your ability to earn income long term
- Pain and Suffering — Both physical and mental anguish caused by the stress of the accident
- Personal Property Damage — In the event that you had personal property lost or damaged during the accident
- Funeral and Burial Expenses — If you have lost a family member due to the aviation accident
Will Insurance Companies Cover Damages From an Aviation Accident?
Insurance companies will compensate for some of the damages depending on the details of your aviation accident. Negotiating with insurance companies is an integral part of the process of standing up for your rights as a victim of an aviation accident.
It can be a struggle to get fair compensation. Initially, they will likely offer you the lowest settlement possible, far below what is needed to cover all past and future expenses.
The risk of accepting a “lowball” offer is why it is so critical to engage with an experienced attorney who can help you assess all available damages and determine if a settlement offer is likely to cover your needs — now and into the future.
Every commercial airline — and most chartered and business-related flights — are required to have insurance coverage to compensate victims in the case of an accident. In addition, you may be able to initiate a claim to recoup damages from:
- Life insurance — While life insurance policies do typically cover airplane crashes, there are exceptions to the coverage depending on the type of aircraft and the purpose of the flight.
- Travel Insurance — If your airplane accident occurred while you were traveling, you might be compensated by your travel insurance policy for personal injuries and property damages. Coverage varies according to your plan.
- Medical Insurance — Your medical insurance may cover your immediate medical treatment, but this is subject to deductibles and often has a limit to the extent of the coverage.
- Other Third-Party Liability Insurance — For-hire pilots, aircraft rental facilities, and other general aviation services providers (including mechanics) typically have a liability insurance policy available for bodily injury as well as other direct damages resulting from their errors & omissions (E&O insurance).
Work With An Experienced Aviation Accident Lawyer
Ali Awad is passionate about helping aviation accident victims and their families recover after the devastating effects of an aviation accident.
With years of experience and a proven track record for success in personal injury cases, Awad and his team at The CEO Lawyer will determine the most effective legal strategy for your claim while providing comprehensive case management from start to finish.
The CEO Lawyer does it all with your best interests in mind.
The CEO Lawyer works diligently and tirelessly to fight for clients’ rights to recoup damages and losses inflicted by an aviation accident. Through the efforts of himself and his personal injury team, The CEO Lawyer has won millions of dollars in personal injury cases for our clients.
Legal representation from The CEO Lawyer means that all clients are treated with respect and equality. Every single person that is a victim of an airplane crash is deserving of the highest chance of securing awards for damages.
Use the contact form below to schedule a free consultation with our legal professionals — people who are knowledgeable of the law and experienced in recouping losses for aviation accident victims.
Alternatively, dial (833)254-2923 to speak with our team today.
There is no obligation for a confidential consultation, so there’s no risk to contact us and speak with an attorney who will listen to your story and help you trace a path toward recovery.