Austin Helicopter Tour Crash Attorneys
Helicopter tour accidents can cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries. They can be devastating because innocent victims seeing the sights with their families are harmed, often because of the negligence or wrongdoing of tour operators.
When this type of accident occurs, victims or their surviving loved ones may be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation. In fact, victims may be able to sue the tour company, the manufacturer of the helicopter or its parts, air traffic controllers, or others responsible for the incident.
Slack Davis can provide representation in these difficult circumstances. Our team includes former pilots and former NASA aerospace engineers with a deep understanding of aviation laws as well as the technical issues that arise when piloting a helicopter.
We can bring our legal knowledge and experience to work on your case, so give us a call or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation and learn more.
What Are Helicopter Tours?
Helicopter tours are a popular tourist attraction that typically involves visitors traveling on a helicopter to get a guided tour of an area and to see views of landmarks, city skylines, or other natural wonders while in the air. This aerial view can provide a different and more complete picture of many popular attractions.
Helicopter tours may or may not include narration, and they can be both short and long trips. In the Austin area, helicopter tours typically feature:
- Downtown skyline tours to see landmarks like Lady Bird Lake, the Texas State Capitol, and the Frost Bank Tower
- Tours of Lake Travis and Hill Country where you can see Mount Bonnell, the Pennybacker Bridge, and the beautiful rolling hills
- Nighttime skyline trips to see Austin lit up after dark
- Sunset tours that showcase the skyline during the golden hour and provide glowing sunset reflections over surrounding lakes.
Specialty tours may also be available for locations such as the University of Texas Stadium or Tesla headquarters.
Accident Risks For Helicopter Tours
Helicopter tours present significant risks for tour attendees, including the risk of:
- Mechanical and design defects, as helicopters have complex moving parts
- Fuel systems that are not crash-resistant (especially in older helicopter models sometimes used for sightseeing tours).
- Failures of components like the pitch servo, which could result in the pilot losing control.
- Adverse weather, including sudden winds or dense fog that make piloting the helicopter difficult or impossible
- Collisions with obstacles such as hidden power lines
- Collisions with other aircraft in overly congested spaces
- An untrained or negligent pilot, especially if pilots are also narrating the trip to passengers and become distracted
- Pilots who give in to pressure to make dangerous decisions to attract more tourists, such as flying too close to high-risk areas in order to provide better opportunities for photos
These are some of the many different risks that victims could experience while on a helicopter tour.
It's important to note that while you may sign a liability waiver before embarking on the tour, this waiver does not necessarily cover all risks, and it may still be possible to pursue a claim if unexpected issues arise.
How Can Slack Davis Help After an Accident on Your Helicopter Tour?
Slack Davis can provide invaluable support and knowledgeable legal advocacy after an accident on a helicopter tour. Our firm works with you to:
- Identify defendants
- Gather evidence
- Build a strong claim
- Negotiate a settlement out of court
- Go to court, prove damages, and maximize your chances of a successful court verdict when no settlement is reached.
Our decades of experience and our history in the aviation industry helps us navigate your claims effectively so you can maximize your chances of a successful outcome.
Most Common Causes of Austin Helicopter Tour Accidents
Helicopter tour accidents can occur for many reasons. However, there are certain incidents that happen with greater frequency than others.
Defective parts are one very common issue. For example:
- In one notable case, Slack Davis represented plaintiffs after a defective fuel tank caused a crash.
- In another, the incident was caused by failure of the engine control unit.
- Failure of the full authority digital engine control unit caused a loss of engine power in another notable case.
- A passenger door opening led to a crash that should have been survivable, but turned fatal as a result of a fuel tank fire.
Maintenance errors and inadequate pilot training are also top crash causes, which can result in the maintenance company, the pilot, or the pilot's employers being liable for losses.
Most Common Injuries Sustained From Helicopter Tour Accidents
Helicopter tour accidents can cause serious and often fatal injuries as a result of the force of impact from a crash.
Explosions and fires that sometimes result from a collision can also cause devastating injuries as well. Some of the most common injuries sustained from helicopter tour accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury
- Bone fractures
- Burn injuries
- Disfigurement
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Hearing damage
- Respiratory damage due to smoke inhalation
- Psychological trauma
You should get prompt medical help in the aftermath of an accident and ensure that your injuries are properly documented so you can prove the extent of your damage and maximize the chances of recovering full and fair compensation for losses.
How to Prove Negligence in Austin Helicopter Tour Accidents?
To prove negligence in a helicopter tour accident, you must demonstrate:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care. For example, the tour operator, aircraft owner, pilot, and maintenance provider had a duty to ensure the rotorcraft was safe, that weather conditions were appropriate to take flight, and that the helicopter was piloted safely by a trained professional.
- The duty of care was breached. This means that the defendant fell short. Examples could include pilot error, maintenance failures, or taking off in dangerous weather.
- The negligence was the direct cause of the crash. This means the incident occurred due to the breach of duty.
- You were damaged as a result. The accident must have caused you losses you would not have suffered if the duty of care had not been breached.
Slack Davis will help you to gather the evidence you need to prove negligence, including maintenance and inspection records, pilot training and certification records, air traffic control communications, aircraft data, pictures from the wreckage, and more.
The goal is to build a strong case to maximize the likelihood you'll recover full and fair compensation.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Helicopter Tour Accident in Austin?
You should be made whole for your losses resulting from the crash. This means you should be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death damages
We'll help you gather records and connect with experts to prove the extent of your loss.
Contact an Austin Helicopter Tour Crash Attorney
Slack Davis is here and ready to bring our decades of experience and our advanced knowledge of the aviation industry to your case. To find out more about how we can fight for you, give us a call at (800) 455-8686 or contact us online today to schedule your free consultation.
