Aviation Accidents
Charlotte Aviation and Airplane Accident Lawyers
Dedicated representation for those injured or killed in plane crashes and accidents in North Carolina
Due to the strict regulations on air space, airplane design, and pilot license requirements, airline travel should be safe. However, every law and safety procedure in the world can’t prevent a crash or accident when it’s caused by negligence or human error.
Not every aviation accident makes the front page. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports 1282 aviation accidents in 2015 (excluding military aircraft). Two hundred and thirty-eight of those crashes were fatal, with 406 deaths.
At Warren & Kallianos, PLLC, our attorneys can provide the legal guidance you need after an airplane, helicopter, or other aviation accident. Partner Jeff Warren is a former Air Force Captain and aviator, bringing a unique and necessary perspective to your claim. We understand aviation law and will work with you to seek compensation for your injuries. Call us today.
Types of Aircraft Accidents
Some of the types of accidents that fall under the aviation umbrella include:
- S. airline accidents (including airlines that fly in and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport like Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Southwest, United, and ViaAir)
- Helicopter crashes
- Airport runway accidents
- Charter plane accidents
- Hot air balloons
- Sightseeing aviation tour accidents
- Small plane crashes
- International aviation accidents
- Inflight injury and turbulence incidents
- Mid-air collisions
- Air ambulance accidents
- Planes hitting residential or commercial buildings
- Drone crashes and accidents
Our decades of experience give us insight and understanding on how to handle and investigate these types of claims, and hold the correct people and entities responsible for your injuries.
Causes of Aviation Accidents and Injuries
There are many factors or errors that can lead up to a plane or helicopter accident. Following are a few common examples, although every situation can be different.
- Pilot or operator error. After two crashes due to human error in 2015, safety expert and former pilot Guy Hirst told NBC News, “Humans still cause the majority of accidents. It’s not the machines that are getting it wrong. Since the jet age, planes are mechanically much safer than they ever were. Something approaching 70 percent of accidents in aviation are down to some form of human error.”
- Failure to comply with FAA rules and regulations can also lead to aviation accidents.
- Mechanical or electrical problems as well as faulty design may cause a plane or aircraft to malfunction and crash.
- Fuel problems can also affect an aircraft’s engine and force an emergency landing, causing injuries or fatalities.
- Improper maintenance or repairs can quickly lead to tragedy.
- Errors in air traffic control may cause mistakes in managing traffic on and off the ground, resulting in serious crashes.
- Weather is an outside force that can affect aircraft, causing serious accidents or crashes. Even though it seems out of our control, airlines and pilots can make the decision about whether or not it’s safe to fly.
- Not all accidents involve crashes or other catastrophic events. Turbulence is one of the most common ways people are injured on airplanes. When a plane is tossed around due to extreme altitude changes, passengers can be thrown around the cabin and seriously injured.
Liability for Charlotte Airplane and Helicopter Accidents
It depends on the circumstances of the accident and the type of aircraft involved, but there are a number of people and entities that could be responsible for injuries after an aircraft incident.
They can include:
- Pilots, operators, or employees who performed carelessly or negligently
- The manufacturer of the plane and/or its parts
- Air traffic control and its employees
- The maintenance company responsible for the aircraft
- The company that owned or operated the aircraft
A big difference between airplane and aviation crash claims and other personal injury claims is that most personal injury claims are filed in North Carolina state court. However, some airline-related claims are required to be filed in federal court. For example, if an air traffic controller is alleged to be responsible for your plane crash, the case must be filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act rather than state tort law.
We understand that aviation laws are complex and technical. Warren & Kallianos h the expertise and guidance you need after a plane crash as you seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and psychological distress.
Injuries from Plane, Jet, and Helicopter crashes
Survivors and victims of aviation accidents can suffer injuries from serious to devastating. Among the most common of these injuries include:
- Broken and fractured bones. Multiple broken or crushed bones are common in crashes. When in an aircraft quickly losing altitude, impact with the ground will be powerful and passengers may suffer serious injury.
- Traumatic brain injury. TBIs are a condition typically requiring lifelong treatment and care. Patients with brain injuries may never return to work or the life they lived before the accident. They may experience changes in mood, cognitive ability, and suffer memory loss.
- Spinal cord injury. Aviation accident victims may also suffer spinal cord injuries, affecting mobility and feeling in the limbs. Some spinal cord injuries can leave the patient partially or completely paralyzed.
- Burns. Plans and aircraft often catch fire if they veer off a runway or crash, due to the extreme amounts and combustibility of their fuel. Passengers and bystanders are at great risk of burn injuries. These injuries are extremely painful and can leave victims with scarring and chronic pain.
- Wrongful death. When your loved one doesn’t survive an airplane accident, the law allows you to take up a wrongful death claim on his or her behalf. Your personal injury attorney can speak with you more about how wrongful death claims work.
After any aviation accident, don’t accept a claim settlement before speaking with an attorney. Most insurance companies have policies that encourage their adjusters to offer quick payments to survivors and families of people involved in accidents. They might contact you or your family right after an accident to offer you condolences and gain your confidence. Their goal, however, is to get you to sign your legal rights away in exchange for a quick, low settlement.
You deserve the highest amount of compensation possible for your injuries and losses, and we can help.
Local Information
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is located at: 5501 Josh Birmingham Parkway, Charlotte, NC, 28208. For more information, please visit CLT Airport.
NC Aviation Crash Lawyers Identify All Causes of Your Accident
If you’ve suffered injuries in a plane crash or aviation accident, talk to the attorneys at Warren & Kallianos. Our years of experience give you the advantage when you need compensation for medical bills and lost wages. To schedule a free initial consultation at our office in Charlotte, please call 704-377-7777 or fill out our contact form.