Aviation Accident Lawyers

Airplane Accident Lawyers Serving Aircraft Accident Claims in Houston, Texas & Nationwide

You have likely heard the statistics that say flying is safer than driving. However, this does not mean that air travel is free from danger. In the event of a crash, serious injuries and fatalities are highly likely.

If you were injured in an aviation accident or you lost a loved one in a plane crash, you need experienced legal counsel on your side. At Patrick Daniel Law, our team is meticulous, strategic, and merciless in handling complex accident claims on behalf of our clients.

For a free case review, please call (713) 999-6666 today. Patrick Daniel Law serves clients throughout the greater Houston area and all of Texas, as well as clients throughout the country.

Types of Aviation Accidents

As the home of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, many types of aircraft fly in the skies above Houston. Some of these aircraft stay local, while others fly to all corners of the globe. The wide variety of air traffic means that many types of aircraft may be involved in aviation accidents.

Our lawyers handle claims involving many types of aircraft accidents, including:

• Commercial aviation accidents
• Accidents involving regional carriers
• Private and small plane accidents (including accidents involving charter planes and corporate jets)
• Helicopter accidents

Aviation accidents vary in scope from a single victim to hundreds of victims. Patrick Daniel Law has the experience, tenacity, and resources to help you and your loved ones regardless of the magnitude of the tragedy.

What Causes Aviation Accidents?

Like many motor vehicle accidents, a host of factors can cause aircraft to crash. These factors may include:

1. Pilot Error

Private and commercial pilots are subject to strict regulations governing preflight checks, takeoff and landing procedures, speed and safe operation of the aircraft, and much more. Even seemingly minor errors can put pilots, their passengers, and other aircraft in danger, as well as people on the ground.

Commercial pilots must also abide by regulations on the hours they can fly. Fatigue is a major cause of pilot error, and it may be indicative of negligence on the part of the pilot’s employer as well.

2. Carrier Negligence

Airlines and other carriers are businesses. Staying on schedule is a major concern for companies that transport passengers and cargo, which often translates into pressure on pilots and flight crews to make deadlines in whatever way possible. This may translate into pushing pilots to disregard duty limitations, as well as other safety violations on the part of the company.

The carrier may also try to save money by hiring unqualified or underqualified pilots and flight crew, failing to screen for alcohol and drug use, or cutting corners in maintenance of the aircraft. Each of these factors can increase the likelihood of an aviation accident.

3. Mechanical Failure

Even single-engine planes are complex machines reliant on a variety of component parts. For the craft to be airworthy, each of these parts must be in good working order.

Unfortunately, mechanical failures continue to be a major source of plane crashes and other aviation accidents. In many cases, the failure is the result of one or more defective components.

Defects can impact multiple systems of the aircraft, including:

• The engine or engines (or propellers)
• The fuel system
• The landing gear
• The instruments
• The wings
• The body of the aircraft

Malfunctions resulting from a defective aircraft component may be the result of a manufacturer error (product liability). They may also be the result of negligent maintenance by the owner of the aircraft.

4. Airport Liability

Of course, the crew members on an aircraft are not the only ones responsible for its safe flight. Fuel handlers must see that the plane or aircraft is properly fueled for the distance it has to fly. Baggage handlers must load and secure cargo and ensure that the load is balanced.

These and other parties may be employed by the airline or airport. In the event of an aviation accident, it is important to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash to determine who may be at fault.

5. “Acts of God”

So-called “acts of God,” such as adverse weather conditions or birds in the flight path, may also be responsible for aviation accidents. Although the term may suggest that no one is at fault, accidents arising from these circumstances may still be attributable to pilot error.

Pilots and their employers are responsible for checking weather reports ahead of a flight to make sure conditions are safe. In the event of bad weather or another “act of God,” a qualified pilot should be able to adjust course and take evasive maneuvers to mitigate or avoid the danger.

Injuries in an Aviation Accident

An aircraft doesn’t have to crash for occupants to sustain serious injuries. Flying through extreme turbulence or being forced into an emergency landing can result in brain injuries, broken bones, and trauma to soft tissues of the neck and back.

In the event of a crash, catastrophic injuries and fatalities are the rule rather than the exception. Crew and passengers may sustain injuries such as:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Burn injuries
• Paralysis (paraplegia/quadriplegia)
• Amputation injuries
• Fractures of bones in the arms, hands, legs, feet, chest, and back
• Crush injuries
• Psychological trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder

In the event that your loved one is killed in an aviation accident, Patrick Daniel Law can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your family.

Damages in an Aviation Accident Lawsuit

Due to the extent of injuries that can occur in an accident involving an airplane, helicopter, or other aircraft, extensive compensation may be available for serious injuries or wrongful death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an aviation accident, you may be able to recover compensation for damages including:

• Medical costs
• Lost income
• Limits to future earnings, if the accident renders you unable to resume your job
• Out-of-pocket expenses for medications, mobility devices, modifications to your home and vehicle, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Loss of consortium

If your loved one was killed in an aviation accident, the damages you may be able to recover in a wrongful death lawsuit include:

• Lost wages and loss of future financial support
• Loss of household contributions
• Medical expenses from your loved one’s care
• Costs for a funeral and burial or cremation
• Emotional anguish
• Your loved one’s pain and suffering prior to death

Patrick Daniel Law is strategic, meticulous, and merciless in acting on behalf of victims and their families. We build a case that is unique to your circumstances, then strive to get you the compensation you deserve.

Building Your Aviation Accident Case

Aviation accident litigation is a complex area of law. The Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies will investigate the accident, and a complex network of regulations will apply in your case. Furthermore, many of these cases involve taking action against major airlines and other companies that hire teams of attorneys to resolve claims quickly and for much less than they are usually worth.

Patrick Daniel Law has extensive experience in cases involving complex liability. Our legal strategy in each claim is unique to the facts at hand and built upon meticulous investigation of the evidence.

We partner with experts in various fields of aviation to analyze the accident from all angles. This may include reviewing data from the aircraft’s flight recorder and cockpit voice recorder, reconstructing the accident, inspection of the aircraft, and more. We also work with your doctors and other medical experts to understand the extent of your injuries and what expenses and challenges you might face in the future.

Our thorough investigation enables us to build a strong case on your behalf. Then, we mercilessly pursue the compensation you deserve for your losses. This may involve negotiations with the attorneys representing the airline, an airplane or parts manufacturer, and other parties. The prospect of negotiating a fair settlement with these powerful parties does not frighten us, nor does the possibility of going to trial on your behalf.

Throughout the course of your case, our lawyers and staff will be available to answer your questions and discuss any concerns you may have. We will notify you of any settlement offers, and discuss whether it is in your best interest to accept an offer or proceed to trial.

Contact Our Aviation Accident Lawyers Today

The aftermath of any aviation accident is overwhelming. Whether you or a loved one was injured or a family member died in an accident or crash involving a jetliner, small plane, helicopter, or any other aircraft, you need experienced legal representation on your side.

Patrick Daniel Law has 15 years of experience representing clients in complex injury and accident claims. Our lawyers and staff are meticulous, strategic, and merciless, and we will pursue all avenues of recovery to ensure you and your family are provided the full compensation you deserve.

Please call Patrick Daniel Law at (713) 999-6666 or contact us online today for a free consultation. Our law firm serves clients in aviation accident claims in Houston and all of Texas, as well as nationwide.