A 2022 article in the Charlotte Post Observer spotlighted the dangers of flying a small plane in North Carolina. Since 1983, there have been 654 people who have lost their lives in airplane accidents in the state. Only two of these accidents involved commercial airliners.
The most serious airplane accident injuries and fatalities in North Carolina involve smaller aircraft. If your loved one was seriously injured or killed in a plane crash, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Given the complexities involved in airplane crashes, you should contact an experienced aviation accident attorney immediately. Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys in Wilmington can handle these delicate and complex plane crash cases and work for you and your family from start to finish to pursue the maximum possible financial compensation.
Small Aircraft Accidents Have a High Fatality Rate
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, there are 2.3 fatalities for every 100,000 hours logged flying smaller planes. The fatality rate involved in flying a small aircraft is far higher than that associated with commercial aircraft. Small airplane accidents are more common because there are greater risks involved in flying these aircraft.
Small airplane accidents are also far more serious than almost any other type of crash. The plane is falling to the ground from a height, and it needs to absorb the impact of the crash.
Unless the pilot is able to execute a flawless emergency landing, there will be a traumatic impact that has the potential to cause severe injuries to everyone on board. It is extremely rare for anyone to walk away from any type of airplane crash without any physical injuries.
Causes of Airplane Accidents in North Carolina
Most often, you would not know the cause of the airplane accident right off the bat. In some cases, there is more than one reason for the accident.
The NTSB will investigate every airplane accident. Its investigators will be assisted by the Federal Aviation Administration. A report will outline what contributed to the aviation accident.
State investigators may also be involved in the crash, although Federal Airline laws have been held to preempt individual State Airline safety laws.
Eventually, their investigation may reveal that the following caused the airplane accident:
- The maintenance of the aircraft
- Flying in poor weather conditions
- Errors by an air traffic controller
- Mid-air collisions with other aircraft
- Avoiding other aircraft flying too close
- The skill level of the pilot
Defendants in an Airplane Accident Lawsuit
You would need to sue the right entity that was responsible for the crash to recover Financial compensation. There may be more than one possible defendant in an airplane accident lawsuit.
You may be able to sue the following:
- The pilot: If you or a loved one wore a passenger on the airplane, you could sue the pilot if their negligence led to the crash.
- The airplane manufacturer: The airplane or a part may have caused the crash. You could sue the manufacturer or seller in a product liability lawsuit.
- The maintenance company: A third party may have been enlisted to inspect and maintain the airplane. They owe you a duty of care to perform their job reasonably, and they can be sued if the airplane accident resulted from improper maintenance. In addition to the maintenance company, the owner of the aircraft could also be sued for negligent hiring and retention.
- Another pilot: if the accident resulted from something that happened in midair, you may be able to sue the other pilot who caused the accident.
- The airport: If the accident was caused by the conditions of the runway, or at the airport, the owner of the airport can be sued.
Air traffic controllers are federal government employees. If the accident resulted from an error by the air traffic controller, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the government under the Federal Tort Claims Act. There are special rules that apply to these lawsuits that your lawyer would know.
It is essential that you join every possible defendant to the lawsuit. You may have suffered substantial damages, and one party alone may not have the insurance coverage or resources to pay for your damages.
Why You Need an Aviation Accident Attorney
Alongside the government’s investigation, your attorney can perform their own review of the airplane accident to determine who may be to blame. Even if you know the cause of the accident, you may not necessarily know which responsible parties you may sue.
There could be more than one entity to blame who could owe you financial compensation for what happened. The job of our personal injury attorneys is to protect your legal rights while obtaining all possible financial compensation that you deserve.
Damages in an Airplane Accident
At Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys, we work to maximize your financial compensation for your injuries.
Your aviation accident injury compensation could include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring a disfigurement
- Embarrassment and humiliation
If you lost a loved one in an airplane accident, your family can file a wrongful death lawsuit under North Carolina law. If you file a common law wrongful death claim, your family may be entitled to the following damages:
- The wages that you are loved one would have earned had they lived and continued working
- The grief and trauma that your family endured from the sudden loss of a loved one
- The loss of the close and loving relationship with, and the guidance from, the deceased person
Contact a Civil Aviation Accident Attorney in North Carolina
Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys have a demonstrated track record of success representing clients in serious accidents like airplane crashes. We can use our experience winning contentious and catastrophic accident cases to benefit you. Reach out to us today to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our aviation accident attorneys in North Carolina. You can submit our contact form on our website, or you can call us today at 910-405-7751.
