Top Rated Orange County Airplane Accident Attorneys

While relatively uncommon, airplane and aviation accidents can leave victims with extremely serious injuries. These incidents can involve privately owned aircraft, chartered flights, large commercial carriers, or other parties operating airplanes or performing ancillary services.

When airplane accidents are the result of someone else’s negligence, victims and their family members may be able to recover compensation from the at-fault party. That said, obtaining compensation does not happen without taking action, and victims should do everything they can to protect their legal rights. The most effective thing that victims and surviving family members can do to protect their legal rights is to retain an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

What Causes Airplane Accidents?

Airplane accidents can occur for any number of reasons. With the number of people and businesses involved in the aviation industry, there are plenty of opportunities for mistakes. That said, the aviation industry has an impressive track record of success, and catastrophic accidents are extremely uncommon. When they do occur, they are almost always the result of negligence, which means that victims can often recover compensation. Some of the more common causes of airplane accidents include:

• Inadequate training
• Negligent hiring
• Defective airline design or manufacturer
• Inadequate maintenance
• Pilot error
• Failing to account for weather conditions
• Pilot fatigue
• Air Traffic Control Errors
• Human error

Determining the exact cause of an accident is essential for victims to recover compensation. An attorney who has experience working with airplane accident victims will be able to review your case and determine who, if anyone, is liable for your injuries and other losses.

Airplane Accidents are Not Always Crashes

When you think of airplane accidents, you may immediately think of a catastrophic incident like a crash or a botched landing. While these kinds of incidents do rarely occur, most airplane accidents are much less serious. Non-catastrophic airplane accidents can involve incidents like:

• Suffering injuries during heavy turbulence
• Injuries caused by beverage and snack carts
• Slip and falls in aisles or jetways
• Assaults by other passengers
• Incidents related to overpacked or unsecured overhead compartments

If you have suffered injuries while flying, you should contact an attorney as soon as you can, as you may be entitled to significant compensation.

What Should You Do After Suffering Injuries in an Airplane Accident?

In the unfortunate event that you have suffered injuries in an airplane accident, there are certain steps you should take to protect your rights. These include the following:

Seek Medical Attention

You should see a doctor as soon as you can after suffering an injury in an airplane accident. This is true even if emergency medical personnel evaluated you and cleared you to go home. Seeing a physician will result in the creation of a medical record that can serve as evidence of your losses.

Do Not Accept a Settlement Offer from the Airline or their Insurer

Airlines and their insurance companies may rush to try and settle your case in the days and weeks after your injuries. Invariably, these initial offers are low and do not adequately compensate victims for their injuries. Typically, insurance companies make these offers to settle claims before victims have a chance to find out what their cases are really worth. For this reason, you should always talk to an attorney prior to settling your case.

Do You Need an Airplane Accident Lawyer in Orange County?

It’s a good idea to retain an attorney after any injury-causing accident, including those that occur on airplanes. As mentioned above, insurance companies and at-fault airlines want to settle cases for as little as possible and are not above engaging in high-pressure tactics to try and get you to settle for less than you deserve.  Some of the things they may do include:

• Misinform you about your legal rights
• Pressuring you to provide a recorded statement
• Make an unreasonably low initial offer
• Advise you not to retain a lawyer

Thankfully, when you retain a lawyer, he or she will protect your rights and communicate with the insurance company or other party on your behalf.

Call Us Today to Schedule Free Case Evaluation with an Orange County Airplane Accident Lawyer

If you have suffered injuries in an airplane accident, you should contact an attorney as soon as you can. At our law office, we offer free, no-obligation case reviews so you can find out whether you have a claim. In addition, we will never collect legal fees unless we win your case. To schedule your free case evaluation with a lawyer, call our office today or contact us online.