Aviation Accidents

Airplane and helicopter crashes aren’t as frequent as other accidents and are not often reported unless they are fatal. However, because they often result in serious injury or death and involve so many people, airline accidents can devastate families, cause untold amounts of damage, and leave many families in emotional and financial distress. Pilot and human mistakes are the most common cause of plane crashes. Many airplane accidents occur as a result of defective equipment and poor maintainance. In fact, most people do not realize the frequency with which aviation accidents do occur.

Some Aviation Accident Statistics:

It's a commonly quoted statistic that air travel is the safest in the world. In part, that's true, but it depends on how you gauge the numbers.

When measured in travel-distance per accident, air travel is indeed the safest. The sheer length of plane trips make them by far the longest traveled per trip. As such, plane travel is believed to be 6 times safer than car travel and 2 times safer than rail.

Unfortunately, the one statistic that airlines tend to ignore (but insurance companies do not), is the amount of casualties per accident. Due to their large payload and severity, air accidents are among the most devestating in the world.

It is that all-or-nothing nature of aviation accidents that make safety and flight competence so critical.

Most Common Types of Airline Accidents:

Although it's not fair to say any kind of aviation accident is 'common', listed here are the most frequent causes of trouble.

• Aborted Landings. Occurs when a pilot makes the decision not to fully complete a landing operation. This can be caused by runway confusion, obstruction, or miscommunication with the tower. Aborted landings run the risk of abortion error, poor fuel management, or communication complications all possibly resulting in a devestating accident.
• Defective Landing Gear. Manufacturer defects and poor upkeep are two common causes of landing gear malfunction. Although only one small part of the entire plane construction, landing gear is an essential piece of the landing process. When landing gear buckles or fails to deploy, survival is rare and injury is a certainty.
• Pilot Negligence/Error. As technology grows more and more sophisticated, the likilihood of human error is lessoned. However, the pilot is still a key component of successful flight, especially when in smaller aircraft. Pilot negligence or error should always be considered when analyzing an injury situation.
• Taxi/Takeoff Error. Airport takeoffs require a lot of communication and nuance. Each plane has to be taxied around the airport properly and kept away from other planes. Small aircraft must also be kept away from the heat and push of jet engines as they takeoff.
• Flight Error. During the ascent, flight, and approach of a normal trip, it is important that all stages be handled properly. Each provides its own challenges in regards to weather, equipment, and other variables.

We Can Help:

The airlines have attorneys who do nothing but work on aviation accidents. You need a lawyer with the experience and knowledge to stand up and fight for your rights.

The Hayes Firm will find you the best attorney for your needs who will pursue every claim to which you or your loved one is entitled. If you or a loved one has been involved in an aviation accident of any kind, we can find the perfect lawyer for you. Please feel free to contact us online or call 1-800-603-6833. All consultations are free of charge and will be answered as soon as possible.

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