Steer Your Case in the Right Direction with an Airplane Accident Attorney

Steer Your Case in the Right Direction with an Airplane Accident Attorney

Although air travel is relatively safer than road travel if we consider the risk of getting into an accident, airplane accidents involve many people. They can lead to multiple deaths and long-lasting injuries. A lot of publicity and money is involved in an aviation accident. This makes proving the liability difficult, and you need an accident injury lawyer to guide you through the process. 

Whether a person is on a private or commercial plane, any accident in Tampa will be catastrophic and can lead to severe injuries to the survivors. It is your right to receive healthy financial compensation for the mental and physical trauma you go through.  

Establishing the reason behind the accident can be challenging, and proving negligence is difficult. Federal Aviation Administration stated that passenger volume and number of aircrafts are on the rise, undoubtedly leading to more accidents. If you or anyone in your family has been injured in a plane crash, hire a Tampa airplane accident injury lawyer to help with your injury compensation claim. 

Some Statistics Related to Tampa Airplane Accidents

Commercial aircraft accidents carrying cargo or passengers are always disastrous and bound to make headlines. More than 300 people lost their lives in accidents in 2020, more than any other year before. Many smaller prop planes, private jets, and civilian aircrafts also get into crashes commonly.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported over 200,000 planes in the US. Florida is in the third spot when it comes to the states, with over 14000 private aircraft here. Over 1000 plane accidents took place in the country in 2019, which resulted in the death of over 400 passengers and 227 life-threatening injuries. 

Common Causes Behind These Types of Accidents

The majority of plane accidents occur during the ascent or descent of the plane. Also, almost 70% of all crashes occur in the last eight or first three minutes of the flight. There are a variety of reasons which can lead to an accident. 

An amateur pilot may not be able to handle difficult situations on the plane. Small plane pilots find it difficult to operate more extensive military or commercial planes. Some other common causes include:

• Not inspecting the airplane properly before takeoff. 
• Poor maintenance of the aircraft.
• Manufacturing defects or equipment failure. 
• Issues in the engine of the plane. 
• Violation of federal aviation rights and improperly operating the place.
• Faulty communication among the airplane staff members. 
• Bad weather conditions or natural phenomena.

How do Injuries Happen in Airplane Accidents?

If you are looking to receive financial compensation for injuries in a Tampa aviation accident, you must know how one can get injured to prove negligence. Even if there was no big catastrophe, more minor hazards are also sufficient for filing a personal injury claim. Check out common ways passengers get injured in an airplane. 

Falling Luggage

Many injuries to passengers result from the falling of luggage from bins over their heads. Boxes, suitcases, bags, and other objects injure thousands of passengers every year. In some situations, falling luggage can lead to long-term, severe injuries. With heavy luggage, any blow to the head, legs, hands, shoulders, face, etc., can be powerful.

Burn Injury

Serving carts allow passengers to be served fresh hot food, but people can get injured if the temperature is too high. Sometimes, food and coffee served can be extremely hot, which can cause a third degree burn to human skin. Burn injuries also take place when a plane crashes or catches fire. 

Slip and Fall

Random objects, bits of waste or debris, loose carpets, etc., can also become potential hazards to passengers. If a person slips or trips over anything, it can lead to bone fractures, sprains, and other injuries. Wrists, arms, ankles, etc., are regularly fractured in such cases. Very sudden movements during air travel and tight areas make such accidents common. 

The airline company is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the plane jet bridge. This bridge connects the boarding gate to the plane and must be cleared of any potential hazards. Slipping here can cause multiple injuries and lead to loss of wages. 

Turbulence Accidents

Turbulence accidents are prevalent and cause injuries to many passengers annually in domestic airplanes. Airplane staff is also highly vulnerable to turbulence accidents. During extreme turbulence, they cannot take safety measures in time and get severely injured. 

Most of the time, passengers do not report injuries sustained during these situations. However, these injuries are common, and you can seek financial compensation from the liable party. 

Neglect of Medical Emergency

Many medical emergencies take place on flights every year. There are adequately trained medical officials in a plane to respond to such emergencies, but sometimes they cannot act accordingly because of panic, negligence, or other issues. 

It can take a lot of time before the flight lands, and a passenger is entitled to get proper first aid from the airplane attendants. They also need to start arranging for help for when the plane lands. A passenger can even die if the staff does not act quickly.

Some other accidents have happened due to random objects tossed around, excessive baggage, overcrowded planes, etc. If you get injured for any of the above reasons, you should seek injury compensation. 

Injuries Suffered in Aircraft Accidents

In-flight accidents and plane crashes can be devastating for passengers. These accidents can cause long-lasting injuries and even death. Survivors should seek compensation for the following injuries – 

• Nerve damage
• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Soft tissue damage
• Neck and head injuries
• Back injuries 
• Concussion and skull injuries
• Paralysis or loss of limbs

In the unfortunate case, when a victim does not survive a plane crash in Tampa, their family should also seek compensation for wrongful death, funeral expenses, and punitive damages. 

Florida Statute of Limitations and Liability

Whenever any aviation accident takes place, multiple parties can be liable for it. Insurance companies, pilots, aircraft staff, manufacturers, and airline companies are primarily responsible for these accidents. Big airline companies have a lot of resources to hire skillful professionals that can convince victims to accept a smaller compensation than they deserve.

Florida law’s statute of limitations states that a victim of an airplane accident in Tampa has four years from the accident’s date to file an injury claim. This seems like a lot of time, but it can be quite tricky to build a great case against insurance firms and airlines. Ensure you hire an experienced Tampa airplane accident lawyer to assist you in the legal process. 

Who is Liable for Injuries Suffered in an Airplane Accident?

Laws surrounding personal injury can fluctuate based on the location of the accident and the various circumstances surrounding it. Multiple parties can be held responsible for aviation injuries. These include:

• Aircraft owners or a private airline company
• Maintenance crews or flight attendants
• Air traffic controllers
• Manufacturer of airplane parts and equipment providers
• Pilot or the cabin crew

In most cases, lawsuits are expected because of the injuries. Even if you take part in any such action, hiring an airplane accident lawyer for your situation is recommended. 

How to Prove Negligence in an Accident?

Any airplane accident can be highly disastrous, and these crashes are investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA. Usually, such cases take several months or even years to end. You can use the following to help prove the negligent party liable for your injuries. 

• Investigation records and reports curated by state and federal authorities.
• Opinions from trained and experienced accident reconstruction professionals
• Safety records and past details
• Qualifications and license of the pilot
• Past maintenance and inspection records
• Statements by witnesses and other injured passengers

Most accidents are caused due to error or negligence when appropriate duty is not fulfilled because of an emergency or other situation. Strict liability applies if the accident occurred due to equipment failure or defective parts. In such cases, you have to find out the exact cause of the accident if you want to be compensated for your injuries. 

A Tampa Airplane Accident Lawyer Can Handle Your Injury Compensation Claim

Filing a claim against a big airline company and its skilled representatives is never easy. If you do not want your compensation to be minimized, hire an experienced lawyer to build a strong case on your behalf. You can count on them to:

Analyze and preserve vital evidence

The lawyer will review all available evidence in case of an airplane accident. This includes voice recorders inside the cockpit, flight data recorders, inspection and maintenance records, crew training records, and other procedures. 

In case of manufacturing issues, the lawyer will bring in experts who can test the airplane’s design. This helps prove the reason behind the accident.

Launch a proper investigation

In order to hold all those responsible for the accident liable and help you achieve your entitled compensation amount, the lawyer will launch a formal investigation. Your chances of winning the claim go up if your lawyer can back up your claim robustly. They also reach out to doctors and medical facilities to determine the exact amount they deserve. 

Negotiate with insurance companies and recover compensation

In most situations, the insurance company representing the airline company offers a meager initial offer which is not suitable for the victim’s injuries and damages. Your lawyer will negotiate with them until you receive what you deserve. If they do not offer an ideal amount, your lawyer will take the case to court. 

What is your Injury Case Worth?

It would be best if you had an idea of the amount of money you deserve for your injuries and damages in a plane accident. It is hard to come up with the proper amount, and your Tampa plane accident lawyer can help you by considering the following things.

• If you have suffered a permanent, severe, or life-threatening injury
• The duration and overall cost of your treatment and rehab process
• Suffering and pain caused by the injuries sustained
• The emotional and mental trauma you go through 
• Impact on your life and the loss of wages because of not being able to work
• Expenses paid out of your pocket
• Whether you were partially or responsible for the accident

Most insurance companies will try to bring the amount of injury compensation down as much as possible. You can fight for your deserved compensation amount when you have a proper record of your injuries, medical costs, and other things. 

Damages You Can Receive Compensation For

Victims can receive economic and non-economic damages when they are injured in a plane accident. Some of the economic damages that can be compensated include- 

• Treatments costs and other medical bills
• Lost wages due to inability to work
• Lost capacity to earn in the future
• Future rehab processes and medication
• Damage to personal property

A lawyer will also help you receive non-economic damages that include-

• Physical suffering and pain
• Mental suffering and trauma
• Bad quality of life
• Scarring, permanent facial disfiguration, or impairment
• Depression, anxiety, or PTSD
• Loss of consortium

Sometimes, a court can also award punitive damages in a Tampa plane accident if the behavior of the liable party was shocking. This is possible when the airline’s company consistently breaks the rules and doesn’t act appropriately in emergency situations. A claim for wrongful death can be filed, too, and compensation can be received for funeral expenses and other ceremonies.

Wrapping Up

The number of aircrafts is rapidly rising, and this is resulting in a higher number of aviation accidents. Any plane accident is destructive. So, if you or any of your loved one has gotten into a crash in Tampa, you can contact Coleman Law Group to handle your situation.

We are experienced accident lawyers who can help you receive a proper financial settlement from the liable party. Contact us for a free evaluation of your personal injury case now so you know where you stand.