Veteran Dallas Aviation Accident Lawyers
If you were injured or lost a loved one in any type of aircraft incident, we recommend contacting us at Brooker Law, PLLC to speak with an aviation accident attorney in Dallas. You may not hear about these types of accidents every day, but they happen on a regular basis. Passengers on commercial airlines suffer injuries while onboard; private planes crash and leave no survivors; skydivers are given defective equipment.
Whatever type of incident caused you harm or your relative’s death, we are here to investigate the cause, identify the liable party, and pursue full and fair compensation for your injuries.
We Handle a Wide Range of Aviation Accidents
We are here to help after you suffer an injury or lose a loved one in a:
- Commercial Plane Crash
- Private Plane Crash
- Single-Engine Plane Accident
- Multi-Engine Plane Accident
- Turboprop Plane Accident
- Helicopter Crash
- Hang Glider Accident
- Skydiving Accident
Our team at Brooker Law, PLLC has experience with serious and fatal aircraft crashes. We also represent individuals injured in accidents that occur when the aircraft is still on the ground and in incidents that take place aboard the aircraft involving other passengers, crew, or airport security.
Common Causes of Aviation Accidents
Large and small planes, helicopters, and other aircraft can crash for many different reasons. Some of the most common causes of aviation incidents involve:
- Operator error
- Part defect
- Negligent maintenance
- Systems failure
- Air traffic control error
- Employee negligence
No matter what type of accident you were injured in or which caused your relative’s death, and no matter what you believe to be the cause, you should talk with an attorney who is specifically experienced in handling aviation incidents.
Aviation Accident Investigations
After an aviation accident in the United States or an incident abroad involving a U.S. plane, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducts an in-depth investigation into what went wrong and why. The NTSB is a separate entity from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The NTSB gathers a wide range of evidence to determine the cause of the incident. This is essential information that your Dallas aviation accident lawyer will obtain as soon as possible. However, this information may not automatically be enough to prove another party’s liability for the incident and your injuries or losses.
We are experienced in using NTSB aviation crash reports to support another party’s legal liability. We also will present additional evidence we have gathered, including expert witness statements, to aggressively pursue just compensation for your injuries or loss.
Who Is Liable for the Aviation Accident?
The liable party for the aircraft crash or other aviation incidents depends on what went wrong and why.
If you were injured in a non-fatal commercial airline incident, you should talk with our aviation accident lawyers in Dallas right away. We will perform an independent investigation into the incident, whether you were hurt by falling luggage, a sharp metal cart or edge on the plane, rapid deceleration without warning, collisions on the tarmac, or other incidents.
Depending on the cause of the specific incident, you may seek to hold the airline responsible for your injuries. Airlines are considered common carriers under federal law and based on the Federal Aviation Act they are required to provide all passengers with a high standard of care. The airline is not responsible for every injury that happens, but they are liable for their employees’ careless, reckless, or intentional misconduct.
If you were injured in a private plane, chartered jet, or helicopter accident, then you may not be looking to hold a major airline responsible. Instead, an individual or small business may be liable, such as the plane owner, the pilot, the maintenance provider, or a part or aircraft manufacturer.
It also is possible for another passenger to be responsible for the accident and your injuries. In these circumstances, we may represent you in a personal injury or wrongful death claim against that person.
Theories of Liability for Aviation Accidents
The basis for why the other party is liable for your injuries or loss will depend on that party’s connection to the accident and why the accident took place. The two most common theories of liability for aviation accidents are negligence and product liability. Our Dallas aviation accident lawyers can discuss the differences and when each is appropriate.
Negligence is appropriate if we believe the other party, such as an airline employee, owed you a duty of care and failed to provide you with the requisite standard of care.
Under a theory of negligence, we would need to prove:
- The party owed you a duty of care;
- The party breached the standard of care;
- The party’s breach caused you harm;
- You suffered an injury for which you can be compensated for.
Another way to pursue compensation is through a product liability claim. We may have evidence that a business designed, manufactured, or sold a defective and dangerous aircraft. Under a product liability claim, we may argue the party is liable due to negligence. We also may be able to argue the party is strictly liable for the harm caused by their product or they breached an implied or express warranty.
International Aviation Accidents and Laws
When a flight takes off and lands in the United States and the liable party is a U.S. entity, then domestic law applies. However, many aviation incidents involve another country or foreign entity. If you are from Texas but were injured in a foreign country, contact us online talk with our Dallas aviation accident lawyers today by calling 214-217-0277. Various international treaties may apply to your circumstances, such as the Montreal Convention, Warsaw Convention, and the Hague Protocol.