Pennsylvania Lawyers For Airplane And Aircraft Crashes

Statistically, air travel is considered significantly safer than traveling by vehicle. According to USA Today, the average person has a one in 98 chance of dying in a car crash during their lifetime, as opposed to a one in 7178 chance of dying in a plane crash. Aviation crashes still happen on a regular basis, however; and although these odds may be reassuring to air travelers in general, they provide very little comfort to those who end up getting injured or killed in an aviation accident.

At Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., we are dedicated to quality representation in aviation accident cases. Since 1972, our approach has helped us build a reputation for achieving positive results in these serious and complicated cases.

Aviation accidents are a complex area of law. Using our in-depth knowledge and extensive resources, however, we are well equipped to handle your case, regardless of the type of aircraft involved:

• Small, private plane crashes, like those involving bush planes including Cessna, Piper, Beech and De Havilland aircraft
• Charter plane crashes
• Commercial plane crashes
• Helicopter crashes
• Skydiving accidents

One thing that sets aviation accidents apart from other areas of personal injury law is the severity of the injuries sustained. Airplane crashes often result in wrongful death. And when there are survivors, they often sustain serious and catastrophic injuries, which may include:

• Severe burns

• Spinal cord injuries

• Head injuries

• Neck and back injuries

• Internal injuries

• Fractures/broken bones

• Amputations/loss of limbs

• Blindness and deafness

The experienced aviation attorneys at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C. can help you or the families of plane crash victims get through this difficult process.

Causes Of Aviation Accidents

There are a number of different reasons that plane crashes occur, and they are usually due to some type of human error. Some of the most common causes include:

• Pilot Error: Many aviation crashes happen because of errors made by the pilot. Pilots may fail to properly address inclement weather, fail to navigate according to conditions, fail to properly manage fuel levels, fail to communicate adequately with air traffic control, or fail to properly follow established procedures, protocols, and best safety practices.

• Air Traffic Controller Negligence: The job of air traffic controllers is to monitor and regulate the flow of air traffic in and around airports. This is considered one of the most stressful jobs, because mistakes can cost numerous innocent lives. Unfortunately, labor shortages in recent years have caused many controllers to work long hours and become fatigued on the job. This can lead to serious errors in judgment with catastrophic consequences.

• Airline/Airport Ground Crew Negligence: The ground crew is another group that plays a critical role in air travel safety. It is their job to direct airplanes in and out of the gates and terminal areas. But sometimes they provide poor direction and/or fail to clear the airplane’s pathway of obstructive items, such as stray baggage carts.

• Negligent Maintenance: All it takes is one small engine problem to bring down a plane. This is why proper maintenance is so critical. Even if an airplane is not used all that much, it still needs to be regularly inspected and maintained – especially as the plane ages.

• Defective Equipment: Many aviation accidents are caused by a defective airplane or airplane part/equipment design. An accident could also happen because of a flaw in the manufacturing process. When an airplane defect is to blame, we have the technical and legal knowledge to build a strong product liability case.

It is important to remember that plane crashes are not the only aviation-related events that can result in serious harm. Accidents can also happen while the plane is in flight, which can cause life-altering injuries to passengers and crew members. Some of the most frequent causes of aviation injuries during a flight include:

• Air Turbulence: In-flight air turbulence is one of the leading causes of nonfatal injuries on commercial flights. Even a small amount of turbulence can cause airplane occupants to hit their heads against the window or ceiling or trip and fall while walking down the aisle. Air turbulence is unavoidable in most cases, but airlines could still be held liable for failure to follow FAA regulations and/or inadequate safety measures that result in an injury. Defective plane components could also play a role.

• Adverse Medical Events: When a medical emergency happens in-flight, the crew is obligated to make every reasonable effort to get the person the medical help they need. This may include diverting the plane and landing at the closest possible airport if there is a lack of adequate medical equipment or medical staff on board. Airlines may be responsible if the flight crew mishandles a medical emergency.

• Food Service: Food and drink service provided in an enclosed area on board an airplane has its own set of hazards. For example, if the flight attendants are not careful, they may strike the arms, legs, or feet of passengers who are seated in the aisle. Another danger is undercooked or spoiled food, which could cause a passenger to suffer food poisoning.

• Luggage: Many in-flight injuries are caused by luggage that falls from overhead compartments. This has become a bigger problem in recent years since airlines started charging for checked baggage, prompting more passengers to bring heavier carry-on bags with them. Overloaded baggage compartments, failure of the crew to store baggage properly, and faulty compartment latches are some of the main reasons for falling luggage during a flight.

Aviation Accident Injury Claims

If you or a loved one has been injured in a plane crash or in-flight aviation accident due to someone else’s negligence or reckless actions, the lawyers at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C. can help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled. This may include damages not only for direct monetary losses such as medical bills and lost earnings, but also for noneconomic losses such as pain-and-suffering and emotional distress.

As we talked about earlier, aviation accident claims are quite a bit more complicated than other types of personal injury cases. For one thing, there are a number of different parties that could be at fault for this type of accident, including the pilot, airline, airport ground crew, air traffic controller, airplane maintenance crew, or airplane designer or manufacturer. There are also numerous federal, state, and local laws and regulations that govern air travel, and it is important to have a thorough understanding of all of this in order to lodge a successful claim.

Our legal team will go to work immediately to thoroughly investigate your case and ensure that all of the critical facts and pieces of evidence are uncovered. We will work hard to build the strongest possible claim, and we will explore every potential legal avenue toward recovering maximum compensation on your behalf.

Contact Our Experienced Aviation Accident Attorneys Today

To talk with us about your aviation accident, contact the Pittsburgh law office of Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C., by calling our attorneys at 412-391-9860 in Pittsburgh or Western Pennsylvania, or toll free at 866-466-5789. You may also complete our online contact form. Initial consultations are free and confidential.