What to Do After a Plane Crash Injury [Legal Rights & Next Steps]
Aviation accidents are rare but devastating. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a plane crash, knowing your legal options can make all the difference. Here’s what you need to know.
Understanding Your Legal Rights After a Plane Crash Injury
Aviation accidents are among the most catastrophic events, often leading to serious injuries, fatalities, and long-term trauma for survivors. While air travel is generally safe, when accidents do occur, they raise complex legal and financial questions. For victims and their families, a plane crash accident lawyer is a crucial step in the recovery process.
5 Common Causes of Aviation Accidents
Plane crashes can result from various factors, including:
- Pilot error: Mistakes in navigation, communication, or judgment.
- Mechanical failures: Faulty parts, maintenance issues, or manufacturing defects.
- Weather conditions: Turbulence, lightning, or poor visibility.
- Air traffic control errors: Miscommunication or failure to guide aircraft properly.
- Negligence by airlines or manufacturers: Failure to follow safety protocols.
Determining the cause of an accident is key to understanding who may be liable.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Liability in a plane crash often falls on multiple parties. Airlines may be responsible if poor maintenance, inadequate safety protocols, or untrained staff contributed to the accident. Pilots and crew can also be liable if human error, miscommunication, or failure to follow procedures played a role.
Aircraft manufacturers and maintenance companies may share responsibility if mechanical failure or defective parts caused the crash. Additionally, government agencies like the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), tasked with overseeing aviation safety, could be scrutinized if regulatory failures contributed.
Because aviation accidents are complex, victims need an experienced attorney to investigate, determine liability, and fight for fair compensation.
What Compensation Can Victims Seek?
Survivors of a plane crash or families who have lost loved ones may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses: Emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment.
- Lost wages: If injuries prevent victims from working.
- Pain and suffering: Physical and emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Wrongful death damages: Funeral costs, loss of companionship, and future lost income.
Each case is unique, so working with an attorney experienced in aviation accident law is crucial.
Why Legal Guidance Matters
Aviation accident claims are highly complex, often involving federal agencies like the NTSB and the FAA. Victims need a legal team that understands both aviation law and personal injury litigation.
At Geoff McDonald & Associates, we have the expertise to handle complex plane crash cases, ensuring victims get the justice and compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has been affected by an aviation accident, don’t hesitate to seek legal counsel.
Contact an Experienced Aviation Accident Attorney Today
Plane crashes leave lasting impacts on victims and their families. While no amount of compensation can erase the trauma, legal action can help ease the financial burden and hold responsible parties accountable. If you need guidance after an aviation accident, consulting a personal injury attorney is the best step forward.
Need help navigating an aviation injury case? Contact Geoff McDonald & Associates today at 804-888-8888 or by filling out our online form.