A fatal crash of a commercial jetliner, small private plane or helicopter is devastating for families who struggle to piece together what happened and why. Even when aviation accident victims escape with relatively minor injuries, they may be need ongoing treatment and therapy and may suffer psychological trauma.
In Atlanta, aviation accidents can range from small private plane crashes to emergency landings of commercial airplanes to accidents at the airport. If you or a family member has been injured in an aviation accident, you do not have to suffer financially. An Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help.
John Foy & Associates has an experienced team of aviation lawyers ready to help if you or a loved one is injured or killed in an aviation accident. We have been helping accident victims recover money for their injuries for more than 20 years.
We understand the complexities of aviation law and we are committed to helping you get a full recovery for your loss. Let us sit down with you for a free consultation to discuss your case and explain the law.
Call us at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.
What Is an Aviation Accident in Atlanta?
Most people think of commercial airline disasters and tragic private plane crashes when they think of aviation accidents. But an aviation accident can encompass anything that happens during a flight or at the airport. An aviation accident might include:
- Commercial aviation accidents. These accidents involve commercial airlines and can lead to a catastrophic loss of life.
- General aviation accidents that involve small private, corporate and charter aircraft.
- Airport accidents, which may occur during boarding, disembarking or when passengers are in the terminal. These can include such things as falls, collisions and equipment malfunction.
- Helicopter accidents. These may involve corporate, private or medical helicopters.
- In-flight accidents that injure passengers while they are on board, including head injuries involving overhead bins.
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What Causes Aviation Accidents?
Aviation accidents occur for many reasons, and the exact cause will depend on the circumstances of each individual case. Some of the most common causes are:
- Pilot error
- Faulty maintenance
- Defects in the design and manufacture of the aircraft and its components
- Air traffic controller error
- Ground crew mistakes
- Inclement weather
As aviation lawyers, determining the cause of the accident is one of our most important tasks. Knowing the cause gives victims a sense of closure, but it also determines who is legally responsible for the costs of the accident. Aviation accidents can be more complicated to investigate than other types of accidents, and may involve looking at flight logs, maintenance records, FAA records, aircraft designs and weather records as well as getting statements from crew, witnesses and experts. Depending on the case, the accident may be the fault of the pilot, the aircraft’s owner, other personnel, or the manufacturer of the plane or its parts.
Because of the complexity, it is best to contact an aviation accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident.
Are Aviation Accidents Different than Other Accidents?
Aviation accidents are different in two ways. First, by their very nature, aviation accidents are highly likely to cause fatalities and other catastrophic injuries. Second, aviation is subject to a complex set of state and federal laws, making aviation claims more specialized than most other personal injury claims.
Aviation lawsuits can involve state and federal law, treaties and the Federal Aviation Regulations. These can govern everything from pilot training to maintenance to air traffic. Some of the nuances of these laws can make it harder to seek financial recovery for aviation accidents, which is why it is critical to have an experienced aviation lawyer on your side.
For example, private plane owners are not required by federal law to purchase liability insurance, which means that a significant number of private planes are uninsured. Interstate carriers and air taxi operators may be required to have insurance, but this can fall far short of paying the cost of a serious crash where lives are lost. Where insurance is inadequate, we may have to delve deeper into liability and look for other insurance policies that may apply to the accident.
What Costs Can an Aviation Accident Claim Pay?
In the City of Atlanta and elsewhere in Georgia, accident victims are entitled to recover all of the costs related to their accident. If a victim died in the accident, his or her spouse or children can recover for their losses. The local courts typically award these types of damages in aviation cases:
- Medical costs, including doctors and hospitals
- Prescription drug costs
- The cost of physical or rehabilitative treatment
- The cost of mental health treatment relating to the accident, including treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder
- Lost pay, if you lost time from work because of the accident
If you were injured in an accident, these costs will help you pay for your treatment and support yourself and your family through your recovery. But if your loved one died in the accident, money can never replace what you have lost.
The money awarded in the case can only help create financial stability as you handle the aftermath of the accident. For this reason, the law allows you to recover the full value of the deceased person’s life, including lost wages and benefits, medical and funeral costs, and things that are hard to put a value on, like loss of companionship and the pain and suffering the deceased person experienced.
Talk to an Atlanta Aviation Accident Lawyer for Free
Aviation accidents are tragic, and you should not have to bear the financial cost of someone else’s negligence. If you were injured, you have a right to recover money for your injuries.
The same is true if you have lost a family member in an aviation accident. At John Foy & Associates, our experienced legal teams will handle your case professionally and compassionately. We start by giving you a free consultation to explain your legal options.
Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
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