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    Aviation accidents and crashes are more common than many people think, and not all plane crashes make front-page news. The Aviation Safety Network indicated that there were 691 airline accident fatalities as a result of 20 deadly airliner accidents in a single recent year. The number of airline accident fatalities increased significantly over the previous year, when 265 people died in airliner crashes.

    Flying on airplanes is supposed to be safe because of the strict regulations on airplane design, maintenance and the licensing requirements that pilots must fulfill before they can fly a plane. Yet all of the regulations, laws and safety procedures in the world cannot prevent crashes caused by human error and negligence.

    When mistakes are made and people get hurt or killed in plane crashes, injured victims or their family members have certain legal rights. Our South Carolina aviation accident lawyers at Joye Law Firm can help people who were injured in airplane accidents and those who lost close relatives in plane crashes.

    Types and Causes of Aviation Accidents

    Airplane accidents can occur on almost any type of aircraft. For example, aviation accidents may occur on:

    • U.S. or international commercial airlines
    • Private aircraft, including helicopters, jets and propeller planes
    • Charter planes
    • Air medical planes
    • Sightseeing planes.

    There are many kinds of mistakes that can lead to a plane crash or aviation accident. For example:

    • Pilot error may be responsible for at least 40 percent of all airplane accidents. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stiffened regulations for co-pilots to try to prevent pilot error accidents. For example, first officers are required to have the same number of hours of flying experience as airline captains: 1,500. This is a significant increase from the 250 hours previously required. First officers must also have an aircraft-type rating, which means additional training and testing for the specific kind of aircraft they fly.
    • Failure to comply with FAA rules and regulations can lead to airplane accidents.
    • A problem may develop with mechanical devices or electrical components of the aircraft. Faulty equipment might occur as a result of defects in the design or construction of the plane or because repairs were not made properly.
    • A problem with the fuel on a plane can affect the engines and can necessitate an emergency landing and cause serious issues.
    • If the owner of the aircraft does not regularly maintain the plane or if the maintenance crew makes mistakes in repairing and maintaining the plane, this can also lead to a deadly aviation crash.
    • Air traffic controllers are responsible for safely managing traffic into and out of airports. Errors made by the tower can result in serious crashes.

    These are just some of the leading errors that can cause crashes involving commercial airlines, charter planes and private planes.

    Investigations and Claims Related to Airplane Crashes

    As many as three government agencies may work together to determine what happened in a plane crash. These agencies include the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    Evidence from the government investigation into the cause of the crash can be helpful in victims’ claims for compensation. You may also be able to obtain black box data, eyewitness testimony and expert testimony to bolster your case.

    An aviation accident lawyer can help you to gather the details you need to build a strong case. Your attorney can take care of the evidence gathering, including working with investigators and consulting with aviation accident experts. The goal is to make it very clear who was responsible for the crash and the resulting injuries and losses.

    Who is to Blame for Airplane Accidents?

    Depending on the circumstances of the accident, there are a number of defendants victims could potentially take action against to obtain compensation after an aviation accident. These include:

    • The manufacturer of the plane or its parts
    • The company that owned and operated the plane
    • The maintenance company that worked on the plane
    • Air traffic controllers and their employers
    • Pilots or airplane employees who were negligent or careless.

    Making a successful claim is tricky, especially as aviation laws are complex and because many attorneys are not used to handling these types of technical claims. Our South Carolina aviation accident lawyers at Joye Law Firm can provide the legal guidance and advice that you need after a plane crash as you seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other losses.

    Contact Our Airplane Accident Lawyers

    Since aviation accidents often involve fatalities, family members of those killed in crashes may be able to pursue claims for wrongful death. If you have recently lost a loved one in a plane crash, our South Carolina accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm would like to speak with you. We may be able to help you recover compensation for your loss.

    Call Joye Law Firm. You can reach our aviation accident lawyers at 877-936-9707 or fill out our online contact form. There is no fee for the consultation and claim review.

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