Under the International Civil Aviation Organization Annex Section 13, an aviation accident is defined as: an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, in which a) a person is fatally or seriously injured; b) the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure; or c) the aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible. Annex Section 13 also defines an aviation incident as: an occurrence other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operations.
In airplane accidents, personal injury attorneys use all resources available to recover damages for victims or family members left behind. Experienced plane crash lawyers obtain Federal Aviation Administration reports and subpoena records from the airline, aircraft manufacturer and other relevant sources to determine the cause(s) of the crash. Negligent maintenance, pilot error, air traffic control mistakes, aircraft design, hazardous material on board, and spent fuel might all be considered.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is responsible for investigating aviation accidents in the United States as well as accidents in foreign countries that involve U.S. airlines. Their responsibility is to provide a probable cause for airplane accidents. This is not necessarily sufficient to prove legal liability.
The best personal injury attorneys promptly and thoroughly investigate all aspects of aviation cases to determine fault and assess liability. Skilled personal injury lawyers work with injured individuals and their families to help them secure fair and full compensation for their loss and injuries.
When pilots and/or airlines fail to exercise caution, and their passengers are injured or wrongfully killed, the passengers and their families may be allowed to recover damages from the airline. These damages can cover things such as the victims’ injuries, emotional trauma, medical costs, and lost quality of life. In order to recover full damages, people must work closely with a skilled airplane accident attorney who has successfully handled similar cases in the past.
