Personal Claims
If we have a strong case, we may be able to bring a wide array of legal claims against the responsible airline, aircraft manufacturer, pilot, or others. These laws are similar to the personal injury, and product liability claims one would rely upon in a typical auto accident. Of course, these claims rely largely upon determining the cause of the accident, such as pilot error, mechanical failures, or defective parts. Often, more than one factor may play a role in the accident, triggering multiple theories of recovery and numerous and overlapping laws and regulations related to various aspects of the aviation industry.
Federal Tort Claims Act
On many occasions, people may be reluctant to sue federal government employees because the government is essentially their boss. In certain situations, however, a lawsuit may be necessary.
One example is a plane accident caused by federal employees, such as a national air traffic controller. In these situations, one may look to the courts. The Federal Tort Claims Act sets forth special rules and procedures that govern when you can sue an employee of the federal government.
Federal Assistance for Victims of Flight 1380 Accident
The American Airlines Flight 587 crash, referred to as "the Miracle on the Hudson" and "The Runway in Sea," occurred on November 12, 2001, when the Airbus A300-605R operating as American Airlines Flight 587, and a Boeing 747-400 operating as United Airlines Flight 175, collided at an estimated altitude of about 3,300 feet (1,006 m/s) over the northern edge of Staten Island.
There were no survivors among the 265 people on board. The investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), concluded that the probable cause of the accident was "the captain's overuse of the rudder, which caused the plane's horizontal stabilizer to enter the wake turbulence generated by the 747. After the horizontal stabilizer struck the wake turbulence, a cascade of structural failure resulted in the loss of control of the aircraft".
If you are interested in learning about Aviation Accidents and Legal Rights, the basic actions you should take are:
- Identify and contact your state's Aviation Accident Researching Resource Center.
- Get the names of three or four attorneys who have experience in Aviation Accident Law.
