DUI Aviation Accident
When you become involved in an aviation accident, it is important to understand the cause. In some cases, the negligence or wrongdoing of the pilot may be the direct reason why the accident occurred. This is likely the case if the pilot was impaired by drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.
Slack Davis’ aviation accident lawyer can help you if you or someone you love was involved in a DUI aviation accident. We represent clients nationwide after accidents on an aircraft, including both commercial and private planes.
Because of our background as pilots and former aerospace engineers, we understand first-hand the complexity of operating an aircraft as well as the danger of operating while impaired. We will help you hold a pilot accountable for choosing to put you at risk by drinking before flying.
When does a DUI aviation accident occur?
In the United States, a person cannot act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft if they have an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen. The FAA also requires that pilots, at a minimum, adhere to guidelines set forth in 14 CFR Part 91.17. These guidelines include:
- “8 hours from bottle to throttle.”
- Never flying under the influence of alcohol
- Not flying while using any drug that could have an adverse impact on safety
If a pilot is impaired while flying, this can cause altered judgment, delayed reflexes, and reduced cognitive function. Piloting an aircraft is an incredibly complex endeavor, and consuming any drugs or alcohol before operating it can have devastating effects.
As a result of the strict rules against operating while impaired, intoxication can serve as strong evidence that a pilot should be legally liable for causing a crash when they are drunk or drugged at the time.
Taking legal action based on a DUI aviation accident
The pilot is an obvious defendant in a DUI aviation accident, but there may be others to blame as well. For example, the employer of the pilot or the operator of the aviation company employing the negligent pilot could potentially be held responsible.
The pilot’s employer could be liable based on its own negligence if its workplace policies or hiring practices fell short of what is expected based on industry standards. The company could also potentially be liable under vicarious liability rules that can make employers legally responsible for the on-the-job actions of staff members.
You should identify all potential defendants who can be held responsible for your aviation accident so you can maximize the chances of recovering full and fair compensation for your own injuries or for the loss of a loved one.
Slack Davis will help you to gather evidence, including black box data, employment policies, workplace records, toxicology reports, and information from government investigations of the incident.
Contact a DUI aviation accident lawyer today
You deserve full and fair compensation if an intoxicated pilot caused you to be hurt or your loved one to be killed in an aviation accident. Slack Davis will work with you to identify defendants, build a strong case, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
To find out more about how a DUI aviation accident lawyer can help you, give us a call or contact us online today.
Aviation Accidents In Which Slack Davis Attorneys Represented Plaintiffs
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