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Thomas J. Henry Handles All Types of Airplane, Helicopter, and Aviation Accidents
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), there were 1,290 civil aviation accidents in the United States in 2014. Of these accidents, 265 were fatal, resulting in 444 deaths. The majority of these aviation accidents (94.7 percent) were categorized as general aviation aircraft, which includes:
- Airplanes
- Helicopters
- Gliders
- Balloons
- Blimps
- Gyrocrafts
- Powered parachutes
In 2014, only 68 (5.3 percent) of the aviation accidents involved aircraft categorized as commercial air carriers or private, commuter/on-demand planes. However, when the unimaginable happens on a large aircraft — during takeoff or landing, in the air, or taxiing — serious injuries and death often follow.
Aviation accidents may be rare, but you and your loved ones deserve to be represented by a personal injury firm with the resources and determination to take on the largest airline companies in the world if tragedy strikes.
Liability in an Aviation Accident Lawsuit
Liability is largely dependent on the cause of the accident. For example, if the accident was caused by traffic control, the federal government could be liable, as they are responsible for air traffic control. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in an accident involving an aircraft, the following entities may be held accountable:
- Pilot – If the pilot’s negligence caused the accident, he/she may be liable. The same is true for the pilot’s employer.
- The owner of the aircraft – Even if the owner was not piloting the plane at the time of the accident, they can be sued for “vicarious liability.” The owner may be liable for negligence in hiring an ill-trained pilot or for supplying a defective airplane.
- Manufacturer of the plane – If the crash occurred because of an equipment defect, the manufacturer of the plane may be to blame. This would fall into the category of “product liability” or “strict liability.”
- The federal government – The federal government, through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is responsible for Air Traffic Control. If an aviation accident is caused by an air traffic control error, the liability may lie with the FAA.
Contact an Experienced Texas Aviation Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident involving an aircraft, contact Thomas J. Henry. We represent victims injured in plane crashes, hot air balloon accidents, skydiving accidents, and any other incident involving aviation vehicles. Our experienced aviation accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends to evaluate your claim.
Contact us today for a free legal consultation so we can determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, and Austin, serving clients across Texas and nationwide.
