According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, 83 of the passengers on Asiana Flight 214 that crash-landed at the San Francisco International Airport, took the necessary, initial legal steps to bring an action against Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft. The victims filed the petition in Chicago where Boeing maintains its headquarters. Aviation disasters, while not common occurrences, have the potential to cause serious injuries and deaths. The types of claims that may be brought include, but are not limited to, wrongful death, negligence and product liability. If you or someone you know has been involved in an aviation-related accident, it is important to contact an experienced, local aviation attorney as soon as possible after the incident.
Most aviation accidents occur because of pilot error, bad weather, poor maintenance, faulty parts, or air traffic controller error. In the devastating Asiana crash, three people were killed and more than 180 passengers were injured. People injured as a result of an aviation accident could be entitled to compensation for their personal injury or emotional anguish resulting from the other party’s negligence.
According to the plaintiff’s petition, the investigation has revealed that a mechanical malfunction may have caused the crash. Among other allegations, it is reported that the lawsuit will address the possibility that the evacuation slides inflating inward and seat belts trapping passengers could have caused further injuries. As part of the investigation, members of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been talking to the flight crew and witnesses, and have been combing the wreckage, studying the runway and gathering recorders from the aircraft.
The NTSB plans to conduct further interviews, examine the evacuation slides and other aircraft components, and engage in an in-depth analysis of the airplane’s performance. The agency is making the Asiana crash a high priority and is hoping to complete the investigation within a 12-month period.
While the media typically reports on the tragic crashes involving commercial flights carrying a great number of passengers, there are many other aviation cases, such as private airplanes or helicopter crashes, which involve serious injury and wrongful death claims. In fact, many air crashes result from non-commercial flights, also known as personal or general aviation.
Aviation law encompasses most areas of air travel, as well as operation and regulation of business issues related to air travel, and intricate knowledge of of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations, specific laws regarding the flight and an in depth understanding of aviation. An aviation attorney is someone with a vast amount of experience handling such cases and who has a thorough understanding of the following related matters: 1) the negotiation of equipment purchases or leases; 2) airline re-constructing and bankruptcy; 3) aviation economic regulatory matters; 4) airplane and environmental issues; 5) general commercial matters; 6) aviation insurance coverage; and 7) FAA compliance and enforcements.
This area of the law is highly technical, specialized and complicated. It is extremely important to consult with an experienced aviation attorney in order to adequately protect your rights and to achieve the best possible outcome of any aviation-related injury action.
David K. Kremin & Associates have over 30 years of experience in handling a variety of serious personal injury cases resulting from aviation accidents. Contact us at our toll free number at (800) 275-2529 to discuss your case. The consultation is free and you will not ever owe us a fee unless we earn a recovery for you.