If You Are a Victim of a Plane Crash
If you or a loved one are the victim of a plane crash, it is crucial that you know and understand the following information to improve your chances of obtaining a successful outcome and hold those responsible accountable for your losses. Potentially responsible parties are extremely challenging to identify. They may include the pilot, airplane owner, charter operator, fueler, mechanics, and manufacturers to name a few.
Plane crashes often involve the most catastrophic polytrauma-type injuries – meaning they frequently involve brain injuries, loss of limbs, orthopedic injuries, tendon and muscle injuries, burns, and sometimes death.
If you or a loved one are involved in a plane crash, it is imperative that you do the following:
- Assess your injuries and any injuries to those in the plane and take immediate action to render first aid as necessary on the scene.
- As soon as it is safe to do so, call 911 or have someone else contact them and give the exact location of the crash and a preliminary report of the injuries. Don't hesitate to ask for an ambulance, helicopter, etc.
- Contact your family/employer/loved one to report the crash and request any aid from them that may be necessary.
- Unless necessary for the victims, do not alter anything at the scene of the crash before authorities arrive.
- Take or have someone take photos and videos of the scene of the crash including the position of the plane, its relationship to physical objects – such as buildings, roads, power lines, fences, etc. Be sure to get some photos taken at a fair distance from the crash site to give viewers a better overview of the scene.
- Also take photographs of any obvious injuries at the scene, if possible.
- If you are injured in any way, absolutely accept the offer of first responders to be transported to a trauma center to evaluate your condition. Plane crashes involve a tremendous amount of energy being transferred from the machinery to the human body. Victims often are injured in ways they do not at first appreciate but which could ultimately be life threatening. Being checked out by qualified healthcare professionals is crucial.
- Once any injuries are stabilized and the accident scene is captured on video and/or in photos, contact an experienced aviation attorney with the necessary resources to send a "Go Team"[1] to the scene of the crash immediately. That team will be dispatched and preserve crucial evidence which could determine the facts necessary to prove who was responsible for the crash and what damage was caused to property and people. That team will interview witnesses, inspect the scene, retain a qualified accident reconstruction specialist, and even do aerial photographs if appropriate and necessary.
- Once you have received appropriate emergency care and your situation is stabilized, begin writing a journal to give to your attorney. The journal should contain all the facts you can recall before, during, and after the crash. Make sure to include details including any pain you have suffered, emotional trauma, and how the trauma and injuries have affected your life and those around you.
- As soon as possible, personally meet with your plane crash attorney and his or her team, at the hospital or some other mutually convenient location, to allow them to assess the facts of the crash and your injuries. These meetings are crucial and should occur as soon as possible after the crash.
- Gather any documents, emails, receipts, etc., available to show any written communication regarding the flight, payments, or any other details regarding the trip.
Plane Crashes Are Rare
Plane crashes involving scheduled commercial airlines are extremely rare. In fact, since 2009, there have been no commercial airline crashes in the United States and relatively few around the world.
Airlines enjoy the best safety records in the world compared to all other forms of transportation because of the intense safety measures in place to prevent such crashes. The standard in the industry is geared towards safety from the beginning of each participant's involvement in aviation – whether the participant is a pilot, mechanic, flight attendant, ground personnel, etc.
Noncommercial airline aviation also enjoys an incredible safety record. During the last ten years, there has been a significant reduction in the number of crashes. This reduction has been largely due to improved technology (particularly electronics) which is readily available to pilots in the cockpit.
Nevertheless, plane crashes do occur and frequently involve catastrophic injuries to both passengers and people/property on the ground. The vast majority of crashes are ultimately linked to pilot error.
Why You Need an Attorney
The investigation necessary to determine the cause of a crash will often take months and could even take years. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is a U.S. organization given the primary role of investigating airplane accidents. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is frequently involved in investigating accidents as well. State and local law enforcement are typically the first to arrive at an accident site and will secure the area until aviation experts arrive. The investigating authorities are very professional and generally treat accident victims quite well, but they are not involved in protecting the rights of the injured – nor are they interested in helping victims receive compensation for their injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. An aviation accident attorney/airplane crash attorney steps into the investigation to represent the interest of the injured individual or the estate of loved ones.
An attorney, who is also a licensed pilot, can effectively guide the victims of a plane crash through the daunting maze of obstacles when seeking to get compensation for horrific injuries or death.
Plane crashes are far more complicated than any other type of crash and should only be handled by an experienced aviation accident attorney who is knowledgeable about the Federal Aviation Administration's Regulations. Make sure the attorney you select has handled similar crashes in the past.
Footnote
1 Gentry Locke's "Go Team" has over 100 years of experience in investigating catastrophic accidents. The team includes an airline transport rated pilot with over 5,000 hours flight time and an in house private investigator who has investigated hundreds of accidents over the years.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.