Airplane Accidents:

Airplane Accidents: While the circumstances of each aviation accident are always different, generally claims for personal injury or death resulting from an aviation accident are controlled by the legal theories of negligence, product liability or some combination of the two.

Additionally because air travel is regulated by two federal agencies, federal rules and regulations may impact a personal injury claim or the standards of care owed to the victim of an aviation accident.

Negligence is the legal term for the failure to do or not do that which a reasonable person would, in a similar situation, do to protect others from foreseeable risks. Pilots, airline maintenance providers and major airlines are among those subject to negligence claims when an aviation accident occurs.

Product liability refers to the legal responsibility placed on manufacturers and sellers of defective products. If it can be proved that a defective product somehow contributed to the aviation-related accident, then product liability may allow recovery against the manufacturer or seller of the defective product.

When determining liability in a plane crash, the owner and operator of the aircraft certainly may be liable; manufacturers or maintenance suppliers may be liable in certain circumstances; even the federal government may bear some responsibility in an aircraft accident.

Aviation litigation is very complex. There are many different theories of liability under state law, federal law, and international law. To hold someone responsible for the accident, the plaintiff must prove the defendant failed to meet an industry standard related to operating the aircraft, or related to engineering, or other operational issues.

In order to successfully resolve these and other legal issues associated with an aviation accident it is essential that you contact an experienced aviation attorney.

If you have lost a loved one, or have been fortunate enough to survive an airplane accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately to protect your legal rights.