Airplanes are one of the safest travel means in the world today, with very little chance of getting into a crash or accident. This is many thanks to the careful preparations that go into every flight before it hits the tarmac. In fact, it was reported that only 40 large commercial passenger planes were involved in a crash out of 24.4 million airplanes that flew in 2020.
This means that your chances of getting in an accident when you book a flight are pretty low, and you are most likely to arrive at your destination safely. However, the truth is that plane crashes can be devastating, and the damages are often severe. Moreover, the moments after the crash can be pretty foggy, and you will be confused about what to do. This is especially if you do not have adequate information to guide you.
Thankfully, this article will discuss some essential information to guide you on what to do after a plane crash. Please ensure to read to the end for more eye-opening information.
Tips on What to Do in a Plane Crash Scene
Plane crash scenes are often different from most other vehicle accident scenes. So, the things you are required to do in such scenes might be a bit different. But, the good news is that you have a higher chance of surviving a plane crash if you do the right things.
According to a recent report by Abc News, you have about a 90% chance of surviving a plane crash if you are correctly guided. Here are some tips to help you:
Try to Follow Instructions
You should know that flight crews and attendants have been specially trained for various possible occurrences during the flight. So, they know the best things to do at a crash scene.
During a plane crash, the best thing to do is to remain calm and follow all the crew’s instructions.
Get out immediately
Multiple sources have reported that fatality rates in a plane crash often increase significantly after the first 90 seconds have passed. This means your survival chances are higher if you get out of the plane in the first few seconds.
Of course, you should follow instructions from the cabin crew on what to do after the crash. However, do not wait for them if you notice they are dizzy, disoriented, or unconscious. Instead, try to get out of the cabin and go far away from the plane as quickly as possible.
Quickly locate your closest accessible exit and move towards it. When you get there, assess it for safety by checking if there are any hazards around. Perhaps the exit isn’t safe enough. In that case, you should move to the next closest exit and check it out too.
Once you find a safe exit, use it and get as far as possible from the plane. Please do not waste any time looking for your luggage. Instead, focus on saving yourself first. Then, you can return later for any of your salvageable belongings when things are under better control.
Stay Low
Many plane crash fatalities occur because of post-crash fumes, smoke, or fire. So, the best way to make your escape from the cabin after a plane crash is by bending as low as possible while evacuating the plane. This is especially if you notice any smoke or fume. Staying low in such situations will help to reduce the amount of fume and smoke you inhale.
If possible, cover your nose and mouth with a piece of wet clothing.
Do not Climb Seats
People often start climbing and jumping over seats in the few frantic moments after a plane crash. Most of these people do it because the aisle is congested, and they want to get to the exit as quickly as possible. But then, this might end up doing you more harm than good.
Various research reports that exit paths get even more congested when people climb and jump over seats in plane crash situations. This will ultimately increase the time it will take everyone to get out of the plane, including the seat climbers. So, it is always best to maintain order and walk to the exit in a queue after a plane crash.
Move Away from the plane
After you have gotten out of the cabin, the next thing to do is move a few distances away from the plane. You should know that the plane might erupt in fire or explode in a few minutes. So, moving away as quickly as possible is the best line of action.
However, do not move out of the vicinity. This is so that rescuers can find you when they arrive. Safety experts suggest that you should only move about 500 ft away from the plane.
Check Yourself for Injuries
Safety and health should always be the priority in all accident situations. So, take some time to check yourself for injuries once you have moved to a safe distance from the plane.
Once you have confirmed that you are not severely injured, you can check with other people in the crash to confirm that they are fine too. If anyone is severely injured, you can offer first aid before emergency services arrive.
Contact an Airplane Accident Lawyer
Finally, you should contact an airplane accident lawyer after you have been involved in an airplane crash. This is because they know the exact legal processes to follow after the crash and how to navigate these processes.
Of course, you should know that airplane accident attorneys are experienced in handling plane crash cases. This is considering that they must have handled a number of them before. So, they have probably picked up a lot of lessons from solving all these previous cases.
Also, insurance companies are often reluctant to pay your total settlements in accident situations. They will actively look for windows they can explore to help them dodge paying your deserved compensation.
Thankfully, an airplane accident lawyer knows how to deal with such situations. They also know how to negotiate a fair settlement for accident damages.
Can You Sue for Settlement After a Plane Crash?
You should know that plane crashes happen in most cases because of someone’s negligence. So, whenever it happens, you reserve the right to file a compensation claim against the negligent party for your damages from the crash.
Also, you should hire the services of a personal injury lawyer who can help you calculate the extent of your damages, both emotionally, financially, and otherwise.
Who is Responsible for Your Damages in a Plane Crash?
As earlier stated, plane crashes often happen because of someone’s negligence. Thankfully, you can always sue these people for damages from the crash.
Of course, commercial planes need to be routinely checked and maintained before and after every flight. Some of the people who can be held responsible in the event of a plane crash include the following:
- The owner. It is the responsibility of airplane owners and companies to ensure that their planes are in perfect condition before any flight. Otherwise, a crash might just be looming. When this is the case, you can sue the owner for your damages.
- The plane manufacturer. The manufacturer can also be held responsible in a plane crash situation.
- The Inspector. There are special employees whose job is to inspect a plane and ensure that there is nothing wrong with it before taking off. These people are to check everything on the plane, including fuel and emergency gadgets. These people are liable for the damages in case of a crash because of their negligence.
- Maintenance crew. The maintenance crew is responsible for running maintenance routines on a plane. They can also be held responsible for damages in a crash if they fail their duty.
You can also sue multiple parties for your damages if your plane crash attorney can establish that the negligent parties are more than one.
Conclusion
Plane crashes do not occur as frequently as most other vehicle accidents. However, the scenes can be gruesome when it occurs. Moreover, survivors are often confused about the next steps after a crash. This article has discussed some essential information to guide you in such situations.
Perhaps you are looking for a plane crash lawyer to help with your accident claim. In that case, you should contact Coleman Law Group now, and let’s help you win the claim!
