Airplane Crashes
SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR CREW, PASSENGERS AND INJURED PARTIES ON THE GROUND
Aviation is a vital sector of the Washington State economy, an essential means of transportation throughout the Pacific Northwest, and a thrilling hobby for private aviators. But when planes malfunction or pilots make mistakes, the results can be disastrous. Since 1959, the aviation accident attorneys at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC have helped victims of plane crashes and their grieving families.
We fight to obtain compensation and hold accountable those parties who cause widespread damage and horrific losses.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an airplane crash, or if you have lost someone in an aviation accident, our Washington airplane crash lawyers can help you understand your legal options and investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
WHAT ARE THE LEADING CAUSES OF AIRPLANE CRASHES?
When planes do go down, determining what caused the accident is an important part of establishing liability. Aviation accidents can result from a number of circumstances, including pilot error, adverse weather, mechanical failure, sabotage, and other human error.
When investigating an airplane crash, it is important to look beyond the immediate cause of the accident. The circumstances may involve multiple contributing factors or potentially responsible parties.
Pilot Error
Pilot error can raise important questions about negligence. Did the pilot have adequate training? Was the pilot inattentive? Did pilot distraction or intoxication play a role? Was the pilot imprudent in choosing to fly given the plane’s condition or the weather?
Determining whether pilot conduct contributed to a crash requires a careful investigation of the circumstances surrounding the flight.
Weather
Weather can create significant risks for aircraft. While weather conditions themselves may be outside anyone’s control, the decision to fly in particular weather conditions can be an important issue when determining how an accident occurred.
Mechanical Failure
A failure of a plane or its parts might be attributable to a defective design, defective manufacture, or faulty maintenance. Determining the source of a mechanical failure may therefore require examination of the aircraft, its components, and relevant maintenance records.
Sabotage
A deliberate act designed to bring a plane down can cause catastrophic injuries and deaths. When an intentional act contributes to an aviation accident, the circumstances surrounding that act must be investigated to determine what legal claims may be available.
Other Human Error
Other human errors may also contribute to an aviation accident. This could include a mistake by a flight controller communicating with the pilot. It might also involve the way cargo was loaded, either beyond the plane’s capacity or in an unsecured or unbalanced manner that affected the operation of the plane.
WHO CAN BE LIABLE FOR AN AIRPLANE CRASH?
Determining liability after an airplane crash can require a detailed investigation. Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include the pilot, aircraft owner or operator, maintenance providers, manufacturers, or other parties whose conduct contributed to the accident.
An airplane crash may involve more than one contributing factor, and identifying all potentially responsible parties can be an important part of pursuing a claim.
The specific parties who may be legally responsible depend on the facts of the individual accident and the applicable law.
RECONSTRUCTING AVIATION ACCIDENTS TO DETERMINE CAUSE AND LIABILITY
The flight data recorder, also called the black box, is an important source of information for the cause of a plane crash. But it is only one piece of evidence that assists in establishing liability.
Our personal injury attorneys consult with accident reconstruction experts and aviation engineers to thoroughly investigate all aspects of a plane crash, because even the tiniest detail can be instrumental in helping establish how the accident occurred and who may be responsible.
WHAT EVIDENCE IS USED TO INVESTIGATE AN AIRPLANE CRASH?
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, an aviation investigation may involve reviewing multiple sources of evidence, including:
- Flight data recorder information
- Cockpit voice recorder information
- Aircraft maintenance records
- Pilot training and qualification records
- Weather conditions
- Air traffic control communications
- Witness statements
- Aircraft components and wreckage
- Accident reconstruction
- Other records and evidence relevant to the circumstances of the crash
No single piece of evidence necessarily explains an entire aviation accident. A thorough investigation can help establish what happened and whether negligence or another form of legal liability contributed to the crash.
TYPES OF AVIATION ACCIDENTS
Airplane and aviation accidents can occur in many different settings. RHHK represents victims and families affected by aviation accidents involving different types of aircraft and circumstances.
These may include:
- Private aircraft crashes
- Charter aircraft accidents
- Small aircraft crashes
- Sightseeing aircraft accidents
- Helicopter accidents
- Accidents involving aircraft passengers or crew
- Accidents involving people injured on the ground
- Accidents involving aircraft maintenance or mechanical failures
The legal issues involved depend on the type of aircraft, the circumstances of the accident, the parties involved, and the evidence available.
INJURIES AFTER AN AIRPLANE CRASH
Airplane crashes can cause catastrophic injuries and, in the most serious cases, death. Survivors may require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, while some injuries can result in permanent limitations.
Potential injuries following an aviation accident may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Burns
- Internal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Other serious or catastrophic injuries
RHHK represents clients in a wide range of personal injury matters. Learn more about traumatic brain injuries and spinal injuries.
A serious accident can also have lasting emotional and psychological consequences. Our new resource on dealing with PTSD after a car accident addresses some of the psychological effects that can follow a traumatic accident:
COMPENSATION AFTER AN AIRPLANE CRASH
Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, an injured person may seek compensation for losses associated with an aviation accident. Potential damages may include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses recognized by law.
When determining the value of a personal injury claim, it is important to consider the full range of losses associated with the injury rather than focusing only on immediate medical expenses.
Learn more about the types of damages that may be available in a Washington personal injury case.
The damages available in a particular case depend on the facts, injuries, losses, and legal claims involved.
WHEN AN AIRPLANE CRASH CAUSES A DEATH
When an aviation accident results in a fatality, the legal issues can extend beyond determining how the crash occurred. Families may face medical expenses, funeral expenses, loss of income and other financial and personal losses following the death of a loved one.
RHHK represents families pursuing wrongful death claims arising from accidents caused by another party’s negligence.
WHY AVIATION ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION MATTERS
Aviation accident cases can involve complicated questions about how an aircraft was operated, whether it was properly maintained, whether the pilot or another party acted negligently, and whether an aircraft or component contributed to the accident.
Our attorneys work with accident reconstruction experts and aviation engineers to investigate the circumstances surrounding an airplane crash. This investigation can help identify evidence relevant to determining the cause of the accident and the parties who may be legally responsible.
CONTACT OUR TACOMA AVIATION LAWYERS FOR DEDICATED REPRESENTATION IN YOUR PLANE CRASH CASE
If you were harmed in an aviation accident or a loved one was lost in a plane crash, you need a dedicated legal team with the skill, experience and resources to prosecute your case.
The seasoned trial attorneys at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC are ready to help. We have represented injured people and their families in Washington since 1959 and understand the importance of thoroughly investigating serious accidents.
For a free consultation and case evaluation, call us at 253-383-5388 or contact our office online.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What causes airplane crashes?
Airplane crashes can result from many different circumstances, including pilot error, adverse weather, mechanical failure, sabotage, and other human error. Determining the cause of a particular crash requires an investigation of the available evidence.
Who can be responsible for an airplane crash?
Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include a pilot, aircraft owner or operator, maintenance provider, manufacturer, or another party whose conduct contributed to the accident. The parties potentially liable in a particular case depend on the facts and applicable law.
How are airplane crashes investigated?
An aviation accident investigation may involve flight data recorder information, cockpit voice recorder information, maintenance records, pilot records, weather information, air traffic control communications, witness statements, aircraft components, and accident reconstruction.
Can I file a lawsuit after an airplane crash?
Whether a person can pursue a legal claim after an airplane crash depends on the circumstances of the accident, the injuries or losses involved, the potentially responsible parties, and the applicable law. An attorney can review the facts of a particular accident and explain the available legal options.
What compensation can I recover after an airplane crash?
Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, an injured person may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses. The damages available depend on the facts of the individual case.
Can a family pursue a claim after a fatal airplane crash?
A fatal airplane crash may give rise to wrongful death claims depending on the circumstances and applicable law. Families should have the specific facts of their case reviewed to determine what legal options may be available.
Get Started
Do you have a case?
At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC we have the skill and experience to take on a wide range of personal injury cases throughout Washington state. From motor vehicle accidents to workplace injuries – our reputation and success rates keep opposing counsel on edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have answers to some of the most common Washington personal injury questions. These are resources for injury victims.
Do I need a lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit?
It is not necessary to retain a lawyer to file your personal injury lawsuit. You should base your decision to involve an attorney on a reasonable assessment of the pros and cons. Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC is a highly reputable personal injury law firm that has served Washington since 1959. We deliver value to our clients that far outweighs the fees we collect. But before you retain any attorney, you have to be satisfied that the benefits exceed the costs. We offer these points for your consideration.
What is the statute of limitations in Washington for personal injury?
A statute of limitations is state law; throughout the country, different states set different time limits for identical causes of action. Within each state, different causes of action have different time limits. In Washington, for personal injury lawsuits, the statute of limitations is three years.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?
The great advantage of filing a personal injury lawsuit is that most attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. That means that rather than charging upfront legal fees or an hourly rate, the attorney works without compensation until the case resolves through a jury verdict or settlement. At that time, the attorney takes a percentage of the award. The contingency fee arrangement helps plaintiffs who could not otherwise afford the costs of civil litigation to pursue just compensation without worrying about expenses. It also means that your ability to retain an excellent lawyer does not depend on your ability to pay, but rather on the attorney’s assessment of the strength of your case, or the importance of delivering justice to someone in your particular circumstances.
How do I file a personal injury lawsuit in Washington state?
At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC, we want our clients to have an accurate picture of what a personal injury lawsuit entails. The process is rarely quick and easy; defense counsel and insurance companies often employ delay tactics to wear a plaintiff down. We offer this page as a primer for anyone who has a cause of action and is considering a personal injury lawsuit.
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