If you sustained an injury in an airplane accident, contact the Tampa personal injury attorneys of Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers today to discuss your case. You might be entitled to compensation from the negligent aircraft manufacturer or party responsible for your injury. They should be liable for your medical treatment, out-of-pocket expenses, and other costs.
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers know the trauma of getting hurt while on a plane. A range of scenarios can lead to someone’s injury. Airplane accidents don’t only involve crashes. Sometimes, people suffer injuries while sitting in their seats or walking down the aisle. Accidents can also result from errors when a pilot takes off or lands the plane. Even minor injuries can require medical attention. The bills you receive should not be your financial responsibility. That responsible party should face the consequences of their actions.
Planes are relatively safe when you compare the number of plane crashes to the number of car accidents that occur every year. Fatalities and injuries in airplane accidents are much lower. In 2020, most of the 332 fatalities in aviation accidents involved general aviation. General aviation refers to the private aircraft and recreational aircraft instead of commercial planes the public usually takes.
At Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers, our airplane accident lawyers in Tampa, FL, know what’s at stake after an accident. You might need ongoing treatment to recover and can’t return to work due to the severity of your injury. You should not have to take on the negligent airline or another party alone. We can represent you in your personal injury claim and seek the maximum possible settlement. Our team of litigators has experience in aviation accident cases, handling the most complex cases and fighting for our clients in court when we must proceed with a lawsuit.
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers will be your advocate and fight by your side for the justice you deserve. You will be our top priority while pursuing legal action against the at-fault party. You can depend on us to relieve your legal burden by completing every step of the legal proceedings process for you so you can focus on treating your injury and getting your life back on track.
Call us at (813) 605-1100 or reach out to us online for a free consultation and learn more about what we can do for you.
Difference Between General Aviation and Commercial Aviation
“General aviation” includes a range of aircraft that serve various functions. It doesn’t include military and commercial airlines. General aviation pilots often operate nonscheduled flights.
The type of aircraft used by commercial pilots in general aviation can include:
- Private planes
- Personal and business jets
- Non-commercial aircraft
- Charter flights
- Tour planes and helicopters
- Emergency service helicopters and planes
- Offshore helicopters
“Commercial aviation” is a common form of transportation available to the public. It involves a pilot operating an aircraft they get paid to fly. Most commercial aviation planes take off from and land at large airports and fly domestically or internationally.
Whether they work in a commercial or private aircraft or general aviation, pilots need extensive training and certification to operate different types of aircraft. Despite the necessary experience and licensing, accidents can result from someone’s negligent conduct. When that occurs, passengers could be injured.
Common Types of Airplane Accidents
Multiple contributing factors can result serious injuries in an airplane accident. Whether a plane is in the air, landing, taking off, or taxiing at the airport, someone could sustain an injury.
The most common types of airplane accidents include:
- Landing accidents – A pilot approaching the runway for a landing must adjust their speed and descend correctly to land on the ground without crashing. Pilot error can cause the plane to miss the runway and land on the grass or crash into a fence.
- Slip/trip and falls – Aisle hazards and obstructions can cause a passenger to slip or trip and get hurt. It’s the flight attendant’s job to ensure that all areas stay clear of anything that could cause a slip and fall accident.
- Runway collisions – Collisions on the runway could result from various hazards, such as barriers, transport vehicles, and fences. Pilots could even crash into other planes as they proceed along the tarmac.
- Overhead bins – The overhead bins must stay closed throughout the flight. Items can shift from turbulence and fall out if the flight attendant doesn’t close the bin completely. A faulty latch could also cause bins to open mid-flight and luggage to fall on a passenger.
- Takeoff accidents – A pilot must calculate the correct distance and speed to ascend during takeoff. Errors in judgment or using unnecessary maneuvers could cause an accident.
If you suffered an injury under any of these circumstances, do not hesitate to contact Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers. We an experienced attorney can review the incident and determine who should be liable for your lost wages, medical bills, and other accident-related losses.
Common Causes of Airplane Accidents
Various people are responsible for the safety of everyone aboard an airplane. Accidents can occur in aircraft accidents for many reasons, including:
- Pilot error
- Low fuel
- Equipment malfunction
- Air traffic control errors
- Poor weather conditions
- Landing gear problems
- Miscommunication between air traffic control and the pilot
- Obstructed runways
- Lack of repairs and maintenance on the aircraft and parts
- Inadequate preflight inspections
- Violation of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation
You should take immediate action against the at-fault party, regardless of the cause, with the help of your personal injury lawyer.
Common Injuries in Airplane Accidents
Injuries in airplane accidents can range from minor to debilitating. Some incidents are deadly for passengers. You might need emergency medical care for a life-threatening injury. Ongoing treatment is often necessary to manage pain and heal broken bones. Without prompt and adequate treatment after plane accident, complications could arise that could lead to lifelong medical issues.
The most common types of injuries from the airplane crashes and accidents include:
- Puncture wounds
- Whiplash
- Permanent scarring
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Loss of limb
- Traumatic brain injury
- Psychological trauma
- Burn injuries
- Paralysis
- Internal bleeding
- Lung damage from smoke inhalation
- Significant disfigurement
- Soft tissue injuries
Fatalities can happen in a plane crash. Survivors might suffer severe injuries that lead to disabilities. Daily assistance might be necessary to perform basic tasks, such as showering, dressing, and walking. Many people in plane accidents also develop mental conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Compensation for Airplane Accident Injuries
Pilots aren’t the only people that can cause airplane accidents. A range of other parties, including aircraft manufacturers, could be at fault for a passenger’s injury or death. You could hold anyone liable if their actions contributed to the accident. Those people responsible parties accountable for might include:
- Mechanic
- Pilot
- Plane repair company
- Air traffic controller
- Private plane company
- Manufacturer of a defective part or aircraft
- Servicing company
- Commercial airline
- Flight crew member
When you file a lawsuit or insurance claim for aviation accident, you could seek compensation to cover various losses you incurred because of the accident, including:
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Damage to personal property
You could recover punitive damages if you sue the at-fault party. This type of financial award is only available if you show clear and convincing evidence of the defendant’s intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
If your loved one died in an airplane accident, you could pursue a wrongful death case. However, only the personal representative of your family member’s estate can file the lawsuit. That person acts on behalf of surviving relatives and potential beneficiaries of the estate.
The compensation you receive might cover losses, or medical expenses such as:
- Loss of instruction, companionship, and guidance provided to children by the deceased parent
- Mental pain and suffering
- The value of income and benefits the deceased could have retained and left as part of their estate if they survived the accident
- Medical and funeral expenses the estate or a surviving family member paid
- Loss of services and support provided by the deceased
- Lost benefits, wages, and other earnings from the date of the accident victim’s injury to their death
- Loss of protection and companionship the deceased can no longer provide to surviving family
Statute of Limitations for Airplane Accidents
You must follow Florida’s statute of limitations to sue the responsible parties at-fault party for your injury. The Florida statute of limitations allows four years for cases like this. That means you have four years from the date of the accident to initiate your lawsuit.
If your loved one died in an airplane accident, a different statute of limitations applies. You must file your personal injury lawsuit before a two-year filing period expires. The statute does not start on the date of the personal injury call. Instead, it begins on the date of their death. You have two years from that date to file your lawsuit for fair compensation.
Contact Us
Since 2007, Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers has represented clients injured by the wrongdoing of others. We believe in fighting for accident victims and their families’ rights and pursuing legal action against negligent individuals and companies. You will receive ongoing communication and support until we resolve your case. You can count on our Tampa airplane accident lawyers to create a personalized plan and build a strong case to try to achieve your legal goals.
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers are proud of the reputation we have built for our legal services and positive case results. We have received recognition from various organizations, including Super Lawyers and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We were also featured in Time and Newsweek, among other publications. You can expect quality representation when you hire us.
If you suffered injuries in an airplane accident due to someone else’s negligence, call Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers for your free case evaluation at (813) 605-1100.
