Dallas Aviation Accident Lawyer
High-profile airplane accidents and near-misses have been making the news in recent years, leading to concerns about aircraft safety. Flyers have reason for worry, too. While planes are overwhelmingly a very safe mode of transport, when things do go wrong, serious and often fatal injuries are extremely likely to occur.
If you or a loved one were a victim of an aviation accident that caused harm or took your loved one’s life, you have legal rights. Unfortunately, navigating the justice system can be difficult when coping with loss and grief, and it becomes harder in complex cases like aircraft accidents, where there may be many technical issues to address.
A Dallas aviation accident lawyer can help. At Slack Davis, we’ve been representing victims of aircraft accidents for over 30 years. A Dallas aviation accident lawyer at our firm can bring our extensive knowledge of these claims to your case to help in your pursuit of justice. Give us a call or contact us online today to schedule a consultation and learn more.
What is an Aviation Accident?
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, an aviation accident or an aircraft accident is an “occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage.”
Anything that goes wrong on an aircraft that causes catastrophic damage can be considered an aviation accident, including:
- Plane crashes
- Mid-air collisions
- Rough landings
- Excessive turbulence
- Burn injuries
- Chemical exposure
Aviation accidents can happen on any type of plane, including:
- Commercial flights
- Passenger planes
- Charter planes
- Private jets
- Air ambulances
- Military aircraft
In fact, even victims injured on a hang glider or air balloon are in aviation accidents.
When these accidents occur, Slack Davis provides legal representation to clients injured flying into or out of Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW), Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), or Addison Airport. We also offer nationwide representation to aviation accident victims.
What Are Common Causes of Aviation Accidents?
When an aviation accident happens, it’s important to determine the cause because you can often hold companies and individuals liable for losses if their negligence played a role. Common causes of aviation accidents include:
- Human error: The pilot, air traffic controllers, crew members, and maintenance professionals could make mistakes leading to an accident.
- Aircraft defect: There could be a problem with the plane itself, or with its parts. In this situation, you could take action against the manufacturer under product liability laws.
- Maintenance issue: If those who are supposed to maintain the plane fail to do so and this failure is the cause of an accident, they can be held responsible.
Slack Davis can help you to prove the cause of the accident that harmed you or killed your loved one. Our team connects you with experts who understand the technical failure that occurred, and we’ll put our resources to work gathering black box data, investigative reports from authorities, witness testimony, and more.
What Are Your Rights After an Aviation Accident?
After an aviation accident, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation for your losses. You could sue those who are responsible for the incident, including the following potential defendants:
- The pilot
- The aircraft owner
- Those responsible for aircraft maintenance
- The manufacturer of the aircraft or aircraft parts
- Air traffic control
The key question is whether the defendant was negligent. Typically, this means that the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached that duty through negligence or by violating a safety rule, and that the breach caused the aviation accident.
Different kinds of legal arguments must be made depending on who you are making a claim against. For example, if there were a defect in the plane that caused the incident, you would likely be making a product liability claim.
There may also be multiple potential defendants. If a pilot is employed by an airline or a helicopter tour company, and the pilot’s negligence is the cause of the accident, then you could pursue a claim against the airline or company based on vicarious liability laws. Those laws say that the pilot is acting as an agent of the company while on the job.
Finally, certain kinds of claims can also raise added complexity because of who the defendant is. If your accident happened because an air traffic controller was negligent, then your claim may be against the federal government. In this case, sovereign immunity rules apply, and the process for your claim is different.
Slack Davis understands how to craft the right legal arguments for each type of case. We’ll help you identify all defendants and ensure you are presenting the strongest case possible.
Compensation for an Aviation Accident
After an aviation accident, you should be fully compensated for all of the losses you endured due to the accident. This can include:
- Medical bills, including any ongoing bills due to permanent injuries.
- Lost income, including any ongoing loss of income due to permanent impairment
- Pain and suffering due to the injuries suffered in the accident
- Emotional distress, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, as a result of the accident or resulting injuries
- Wrongful death damages when a loved one has been killed in an aviation accident, including lost companionship, a lifetime of lost wages, and funeral expenses
Because injuries are so often serious or fatal, the damages are often very substantial. Slack Davis will help you prove the extent of your losses through expert testimony, pain diaries, and other compelling evidence so you can maximize the compensation you collect.
Getting Help From a Dallas Aviation Accident Lawyer
Don’t hesitate to get help from a Dallas aviation accident lawyer in the aftermath of your accident. Slack Davis has recovered millions, and we’ll put our knowledge and experience to work on your claim. Give us a call at (800) 455-8686 or contact us online to get an advocate on your side in your pursuit of justice.