Plane Crash Lawyer Aviation Attorney

• Approximately 80 percent of all plane crashes occur shortly before or after takeoff or landing due to human error or mechanical failures.
• According to an aviation accident survey of nearly 2,200 plane crashes from 1950 to 2004, the number one cause of aviation accidents is pilot error, which results in 45 percent of accidents. Undetermined causes: 33 percent. Mechanical failure: 13 percent.
• In 2005, there were a total of 1,764 aviation accidents in the United States that resulted in 600 fatalities. Low-level maneuvering of an aircraft was the leading cause of fatal aviation accidents from 1998 to 2004.
• In 2004, more than 70 percent of all plane crashes that ended in serious injury or fatality occurred during a personal flight. General aviation accidents occur more frequently than airline or business aviation accidents.
• The most recent statistics on midair collisions has shown a steady decline. In 2004, there were 10 midair accidents resulting in 10 fatalities compared to 11 collisions in 2003 with 23 deaths.

Some of the most common causes of aviation accidents include:

• pilot error,
• negligence by a flight service employee or air traffic controller,
• faulty equipment or mechanical failure,
• weather,
• and sabotage.
• Violations of Federal Aviation Administration safety regulations and aviation law are also a frequent cause of aviation accidents.

Comair Sues FAA to Share Blame in KY. Crash

Oct 25 , 2006 -

Comair sued the Federal Aviation Administration as well as the Lexington airport over the crash of an airplane that tried to take off from the wrong runway, which was too short, killing 49 of 50 people onboard on Aug. 27.

The airline said it plans to fairly settle with members of the victims’ families, but sued the federal government and the airport – who Comair feels are also at fault – to ensure that they pay their fair share.

Comair also seeks more than $17.3 million in an administrative claim to cover losses, including the cost of the plane.

There have been at least 13 wrongful-death lawsuits filed over the crash, and more are expected.

According to the suit, an airport repaving project a week before the crash altered the plane taxi route that led to the long, 7,000 foot runway the plane should have used to take off. Comair claimed the lighting, markers, and signs that would have put them on the right path were missing due to the construction, and as a result, the plane tried to take off from the 3,500 foot runway. The plane crashed after barely getting airborne.

The suit claims that the FAA failed to inspect and approve the airport runway construction along the taxi route. It also claims that the FAA failed to adequately staff the control tower with two controllers instead of one.

The accident happened when the lone controller had turned his back to the runway to do administrative work.

Robert Clifford, an attorney who represents some of the families of the crash victims said that Comair’s claim and lawsuit are measures to spread the financial burden of the many settlements.

“Comair really does believe the tower could have broken a chain of events … that led to this crash,” Clifford said.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a plane crash, please contact us today for a FREE consultation with an experienced and effective aviation attorney who can answer your questions, and make sure you recover the compensation you may be entitled to.

Injured in a plane crash? Please contact us today to speak to a qualified and experienced plane crash attorney about your legal rights and options.

 

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