When you think of a plane crash, in all likelihood, you think of the major ones that are plastered all over the news ? pilots with death wishes, faulty equipment and regulation violations that leave hundreds dead and world in mourning. In reality, though, small plane crashes happen all the time, but they aren’t always reported to the media, so we don’t often consider the damage they can cause to property and life.
Sorting out the details in the wake of an accident is a complex issue. There are several courts which handle cases and there are many possible defendants ? from the manufacturer to the owner and even the federal government. The plaintiff must be also able to show that the defendant failed to follow the industry standards of safety when it comes to engineering, regulations and the aircraft itself. But that can be difficult without a trained eye, the evidence of negligence can be easy to overlook in the wreckage.
All personal injury and death claims related to aviation are regulated by the ideas of product liability, negligence or a combination of both. In other words, did the manufacturer sell a defective product that led to the crash, did the pilot fail to do what a reasonable person would do in the situation, or did the injuries arise from a combination of both?
Damages that can be recovered include medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, emotional distress and punitive damages. Our Airplane Accidents page can give you a better idea of our experience in the field.
